[meteorite-list] Deaths by impact

From: Philip R. Burns <pib_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:59:51 -0600
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20111122195725.08eae888_at_pibburns.com>

At 01:33 PM 11/22/2011, E.P. Grondine wrote:

>I am interested in the report of an impact killing a Roman legion.
>That's one I have not heard mention of.

I'm not aware of report of a meteorite killing an entire legion.
There is the story that Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo along with many
of his soldiers were struck down by the "descent of the sky",
according to Julius Obsequens in his Liber de Prodigiis.

      Cn. Octavio L. Cinna coss. [A.U.C. 667 / 87 B.C.]

      56a. Cinna et Mario per bella crudeliter saevientibus
      Romae in castris Gnaei Pompei caelum ruere visum, arma
      signaque tacta, milites exanimati. Ipse Pompeius
      afflatus sidere interiit. Lectum eius populus
      diripuit, corpus unco traxit quod discrimine civili
      perseverasset periclitanti patriae non succurerere,
      cum et imperium et maximos haberet exercitus.

      When Cinna and Marius were cruelly savaging Rome
      through civil war, in the camp of Cnaeus Pompeius the
      sky seemed to descend, weapons and standards were
      struck and killed the soldiers. Pompeius himself
      perished from the star's fiery breath. The people tore
      down his bier and the body was dragged on a hook,
      because during the civil disturbance he had pursued
      his own interests and had not come to the help of the
      state, when he had both the military authority and the
      largest army. (Tr. Alex Nice)

Pliny the Elder wrote that Pompeius was paralyzed by a
star, which is usually taken to mean Pompeius was struck by
lightning.


-- Philip R. "Pib" Burns
    pib at pibburns.com
    http://www.pibburns.com/
Received on Tue 22 Nov 2011 09:59:51 PM PST