ABSTRACT

In 2006 Brent D. Shaw published an article called ‘Bad Boys. Circumcellions and Fictive Violence’ in which he explored the origins of the bad reputation of a group accused of sectarian acts of violence in Roman Africa during the fourth and fifth centuries. Circumcellions and Fictive Violence’ in which he explored the origins of the bad reputation of a group accused of sectarian acts of violence in Roman Africa during the fourth and fifth centuries. Violence against women is therefore very well documented by our ancient sources, ranging from the mythological to the comic. The name ‘circumcellions’ seems to have started out as a description of casual labourers who were sourced at periodic rural markets, and who were paid in part with wine. Violence is generally understood to be the use of physical force to injure or kill someone, or to cause material damage or destruction.