In AD 64, Nero blamed Christians for the fire. The historian Tacitus ( Annales 15.44) records that “a vast multitude” of Christians were arrested and subjected to extreme punishments — including crucifixion. Among them, it is speculated, may have been high-status Roman women who had converted to the new faith. If a Romana — a woman of noble birth — was crucified in Nero’s circus in the 14th year of his reign (AD 67/68), the event would have been so shocking that it could only be recorded in code.
A more grounded theory:
Or:
In its simplest form, "Romana crucifixa est" serves as a jarring reminder that crucifixion in ancient Rome was a tool of imperial power. While often associated with the execution of rebels or slaves, historical accounts suggest that even Roman citizens—including women—could occasionally face the cross under specific imperial decrees or local rulings. The phrase encapsulates: Romana Crucifixa Est 14