The Illustrated Guide to Terrorism

Chapter 1: What Is Terrorism?

Page 11: Who were the Sicarii?

NARRATOR

Let’s start over: WHO were the Sicarii?

Stick figures.

BYSTANDER

Yeah! Take off the mask.

SICARIUS

No can do. We prefer to stay anonymous.

Sea of faces

SICARIUS

It’s easier to strike fear into every man’s heart when he can’t tell who might strike a dagger into it.

Nervous Sicarius and calm Roman soldier

SICARIUS

Plus, if the Romans ever learn our their identities, the movement will be history in a heartbeat!

SOLDIER

Oh, we’ll take our time…

…with the membership.

Sicarii reacting to the narrator

NARRATOR

“Movement?”

So the Sicarii weren’t BANDITS, or…

SICARIUS #1

Bandits? God, no. 

We’re not illiterate thugs or thieves.

SICARIUS #2

Ours is a political movement…

…of scribes and scholars!

NARRATOR

GUERRILLA fighters, then?

Ancient armies fighting

VARIOUS

Not a chance.

Guerrillas engage in combat!

…with other military forces.

Sicarii at an org chart presentation

PRESENTER

I mean, sure, we’re well-organized killers, but…

we don’t fight.

Group of Sicarii at a business-type meeting.

VARIOUS

Also, guerrillas make surprise attacks to gain military advantage.

We’re doing it to get the word out!

Our bloodshed is meant to show the powerful that it’s time to change their ways!

To inspire the common people to rise up against their oppressors!

That means we have to carefully select victims who’ll make the biggest splash!

Sicarii attacking a merchant in a public square

ASSASSIN #1

Victims who promise the most shock value!

The most symbolic value!

MERCHANT

Wha… murder as marketing?

ASSASSIN #2

NO! Murder as the message!

Increasingly irritated Sicarii stick figures.

NARRATOR

Ah, so you’re a RESISTANCE?

FIGURES

No.

Rebels, then?

NO.

Revolutionaries?

NO!

We’re not fighters…

…we are TERRORISTS!

Text box

But WHY?

What did they hope to ACCOMPLISH?

What was all this killing FOR?