Short Suck 66: Locusta of Gaul: The World’s First Serial Killer?
Summary
Dan Cummins explores the life of Locusta of Gaul, a 1st-century CE Roman poisoner often cited as the world’s first documented serial killer. The episode details how she was enslaved and later employed by the Julio-Claudian dynasty, specifically assisting Agrippina the Younger in the assassination of Emperor Claudius. It also covers her role in the poisoning of Britannicus under Nero, who reportedly flogged her for a failed initial attempt before rewarding her success. Cummins contextualizes these events within the broader history of ancient Roman toxicology, political intrigue, and the soci…
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