Post by Dominus on Dec 26, 2016 11:02:16 GMT
SLAVES
Slaves were persons owned by another, working entirely for the benefit of their owners and sustained only by such food, clothing, and shelter as their owners provided them. Slaves were legally property, and could be punished or even killed by their owners without consequence. Slaves in the Roman Republic often constituted half of the populations in the cities, and became the primary source of manual labor, displacing the small farmers and workers who had previously provided such labor. As Rome expanded, new slaves were acquired primarily as prisoners of war, but also by slave mating, or by abduction and sale by pirates, most notably the Cilician Pirates.
Roman slaves served a Dominus, Domina, or both.Different Types of Slaves:
- Body Slave: The Body Slave was a personal attendant to a Dominus or Domina. They attend their masters wherever they go. Usually a female slave would belong to a Domina while male slaves attend a Dominus (though there are a few exceptions). Some body slaves typically enjoy a "closer" relationship with their immediate master/mistress than other household slaves. The intimate working relationship that came with the association of their master gave them much influence in the household as well as being a position of personal advancement.
- Chief Slave: The body slaves were not always the top household slave. An experienced and skilled individual trained in management was required in the absence of the body-slave. In fact the body-slave would have otherwise been entirely subordinate to the latter if not for his appointment to the dominus or domina. They are considered the head servant of elite households, and was sometimes a steward as well as responsible for accounts and payments; they served as a head administrator in the running of the Villa.
- Armed Slave: Slaves trusted enough to carry a weapon and act in as private security and/or bodyguard for their dominus. Some masters employed gladiators into this role. Armed slaves also may supervise the other slaves on the estate serving as guards among the others. Some of these slaves were also tasked with herding livestock and traveling to the countryside, armed with weapons to protect their master's properties against theives.
- Servus Publicus: They were owned by the state rather than by a private individual. They were used for manuel labour in the templtes, forums and other public buidlings. They were also employed as assistants to both magistrates and members of the College of Pontiffs (Roman priesthoods). Public slaves who were literate would serve in bureaucratic roles for the Senate and assemblies (jobs including notaries, accountants, secretaries, scribes and ushers).
- Nexus: They were formerly free members of Roman society who sold themselves into slavery due to debt. They are perhaps better identified as indentured servants, as their servitude was meant to last until their debts were paid.
Slaves currently on the site: