The Mockery of Pirates
This was the pirates’ most offensive practice: whenever someone they’d captured told them that he was Roman and gave his name, they’d pretend to be struck by fear and terror. They would beat their thighs and prostrate themselves to him, pleading for his pardon; seeing them pleading with him and abasing themselves, he’d be persuaded by the show. Then some of them would tie up proper Roman sandals on his feet, and others would dress him in a toga, so that they’d know his citizenship for certain next time.
So they’d have their mummery and their fun with this man for a good long time, but finally they’d let down a ladder while they were out on the high seas, and order him to go ashore and leave them with good cheer. And if he wasn’t willing, they’d just throw him off and drown him.
(Plutarch, On The Life of Pompey, 24.7-8; my translation)
ἐκεῖνο δὲ ἦν ὑβριστικώτατον. ὁπότε γάρ τις ἑαλωκὼς ἀναβοήσειε Ῥωμαῖος εἶναι
