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Lokusta became the court poisoner in the Roman Empire. The herbalist was able to create potions, after which the agony could last for several days. There are legends that as punishment, just before execution, she was raped by a giraffe. Learn the story of the first serial killer in history.
- In the Roman Empire, poisons used to kill political opponents or husbands who mistreated their wives were quite popular.
- The most popular serial killer who prepared death potions on request was Lokusta
- The poisoner did not take money from the poor for her potions. She earned mainly on orders from high-ranking officials in the Roman Empire, especially Nero, who, thanks to Lokista, got rid of political opponents
- More similar information can be found on the TvoiLokony home page
According to Horace, in the first century a calculated and murderous trio operated in Rome. Canidia, Martina and Lokusta were to specialize in preparing specific potions. Their use, depending on the client’s wishes, resulted in either an immediate, painless death, or led to a long, often even several days’ torment, which ended with the victim’s death from exhaustion.
Lokusta was exceptionally popular among the three professional poisonerswhich, in fact, in the time of Nero, she even became a court serial murderer on request.
The first victim of a more dangerous poisoner
The first years of Lokusta’s life are unknown. However, it is known for certain that L.She received extras from local witches who taught her to use herbs for healing purposes.
Lokusta got married unhappily. Her partner abused her and was definitely abusing alcohol. Lokusta decided to use her herbal skills. She then prepared the first potion which she gave to her husband. It was the first victim of her poisons.
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After her husband’s death, Lokusta lived a widow’s life, moved to Rome from Gaul, where she came from, and devoted herself to the secrets of herbs leading to death.
Nero then ruled in Rome, known to historians for his love of ordering murders in white gloves. It was thanks to him that, before he met Lokusta, his father’s sister, Domicja Lepida the Elder, died. Nero personally had to give her too many laxatives. By getting rid of Domicja, he could get her fortune.
Friendship of a serial killer with Nero
During the reign of Nero Lokusta gained more and more customers who commissioned her to prepare poisons. Lokusta was especially fond of women who wanted to get rid of their husbands. Interestingly, the poisoner had one indisputable principle. She did not take money from the poor for the poisons she had prepared.
Several times a week she received a lover, a high-ranking official in the court of Nero. The man dealt with the death registry and, having an affair with Lokusta, covered up her subsequent crimes.
The poisoner decided to get rich by taking orders from wealthy inhabitants of Rome. This is how she found Nero’s court. They both liked each other immediately.
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Nero entrusted his court poisoner with further murders. At the same time, he guaranteed her safety, disregarding all accusations against her. Nay. Lokusta could also count on gifts and even a small land estate that was donated by the Roman emperor.
The flogging and cruel death of Locusta
However, there was a conflict between the client and the murderer. Nero decided to poison the son of Emperor Claudius – Briton, who was the main candidate for taking over his father’s property and titles. However, the mixture prepared by Lokusta turned out to be ineffective. The Briton fell ill, but after taking the poison, he came out completely. The furious Nero – as Suetonius writes – “having only caused a stomach upset in Britain, summoned the woman and whipped her with his own hand, accusing him of administering the medicine instead of the poison”.
Eventually, Lokusta prepared another potion, this time effective.
Interestingly, Nero himself, a fan of poisons, did not use the services of Lokusta, who, before his execution, wanted to give him a potion that would cause immediate and painless death. The emperor decided to pierce his throat with a dagger.
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Nero’s successor, Emperor Galba sentenced Lokusta to death. While no reliable sources confirm this, there are rumors that before her execution, Lokusta was to be brutally raped by a giraffe.
Secrets of toxic substances
Toxicologists, especially those with historical passion, try to find out what exactly could have been in the mixtures prepared by Lokusta. One of the plants used by the poisoner could be saffron sprinkler (Oenanthe crocat). In ancient literature it was described as the sardonica coat of arms. Scientists from an Italian university, under the supervision of the chemist Giovanni Appendino, have concluded after conducting a series of studies that there are toxic substances in Oenanthe crocata. The poisonous plant was supposed to make a huge smile on the face, expose teeth and paralyze the face.
According to the Imperium Romanum portal, Lokusta could also be used to create poisons salamander secretions, basilisk venom, bull’s or goat’s blood, weasel and mouse meat, toad blood and lungs.
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