The The familia urbanafamilia urbana

familia urbanafamilia urbana

Included domestic slaves in country-Included domestic slaves in country-sideside

Slaves engaged in producing wealth Slaves engaged in producing wealth for ownerfor owner

Slaves provided service for owner; Slaves provided service for owner; Functioned as display of owner’s Functioned as display of owner’s

wealth;wealth;

Size of slave Size of slave familiafamilia

Wide varietyWide variety Pedanius Secundus had 400 slaves (all Pedanius Secundus had 400 slaves (all

executed for his murder)executed for his murder) The freedman The freedman C. Caecilius Isidorus owned owned

4,116 slaves when he died in 8 BCE4,116 slaves when he died in 8 BCE Melania the Younger manumitted 8000 slaves Melania the Younger manumitted 8000 slaves

in the 5th century when she became a Christian in the 5th century when she became a Christian asceticascetic

Average upper-class household in late Republic Average upper-class household in late Republic probably in the range of 100probably in the range of 100

Job titles in Job titles in familia urbanafamilia urbana

number of slaves with specific job-number of slaves with specific job-titles was an indicator of a slave-titles was an indicator of a slave-owner’s wealthowner’s wealth

See Trimalchio’s Dinner chapter 5See Trimalchio’s Dinner chapter 5

Livia’s Livia’s familia urbanafamilia urbana

Livia, Augustus’ wife, one of wealthiest Livia, Augustus’ wife, one of wealthiest Romans; had a very large Romans; had a very large familia familia including many specialized slaves: including many specialized slaves:

In her bedroom alone she had sixIn her bedroom alone she had six cubiculariicubicularii

had her own had her own paedogogipaedogogi for the for the children in the householdchildren in the household

five doctors, a sick bayfive doctors, a sick bayMore details see page 62-63More details see page 62-63

Slave hierarchySlave hierarchy

Rustici Rustici were inferiorwere inferior to urbani to urbani Each slave Each slave familia familia had own internal occupational had own internal occupational

hierarchyhierarchy skilled slaves in household were superior to less skilled slaves in household were superior to less

skilled slaves, i.e. skilled slaves, i.e. dispensatordispensator (steward) superior to (steward) superior to a a pedisequapedisequa (female attendant); skilled craftsmen (female attendant); skilled craftsmen superior to an unskilled domestic servantsuperior to an unskilled domestic servant

Slaves of prominent Romans were superior to slaves Slaves of prominent Romans were superior to slaves of ordinary Romansof ordinary Romans

familia caesarisfamilia caesaris superior to any privately owned superior to any privately owned slavesslaves

Slave hierarchies contributed to absence of Slave hierarchies contributed to absence of common identity among Roman slavecommon identity among Roman slave

use of slaves in conspicuous use of slaves in conspicuous consumption consumption

display of wealthdisplay of wealthSlaves used as retinues: Slaves used as retinues: Cato the Younger while military tribune Cato the Younger while military tribune

in 67 B.C. had with him 15 slaves, 2 in 67 B.C. had with him 15 slaves, 2 liberti,liberti, and 4 and 4 amici,amici,

Scipio Africanus had with him 5 slaves, Scipio Africanus had with him 5 slaves, Caesar 3,Caesar 3,

Cicero also small retinue – but had to Cicero also small retinue – but had to borrow some slaves while campaigning borrow some slaves while campaigning for consulship to look appropriately for consulship to look appropriately wealthy and worthy wealthy and worthy

In large urban households the slave In large urban households the slave familia familia did not produce income but was did not produce income but was an expense an expense

Number of slaves in a Number of slaves in a householdhousehold

Cannot quantify number of slaves for Cannot quantify number of slaves for most householdsmost households

But the more specialized slaves But the more specialized slaves were, the larger was the were, the larger was the familia familia urbanaurbana of a Roman of a Roman

Cicero, although a Roman consul, Cicero, although a Roman consul, had relatively modest wealth – most had relatively modest wealth – most slaves performed more than one task slaves performed more than one task

More humble people had 1 or 2 More humble people had 1 or 2 slaves who did everything in and slaves who did everything in and around the house around the house

Where did household slaves Where did household slaves livelive

Household slaves lived in same Household slaves lived in same house as ownerhouse as owner

Small rooms Small rooms cellaecellae (Pliny the Younger, Ep. 7.27.12-14 – (Pliny the Younger, Ep. 7.27.12-14 –

is an exception – he was so wealthy is an exception – he was so wealthy that he had separate buildings on his that he had separate buildings on his property to house slaves) property to house slaves)

Cicero’s Cicero’s familia urbana familia urbana

Although member of senatorial elite – Although member of senatorial elite – compared to other elite households compared to other elite households had relatively few slaves with a had relatively few slaves with a specific job-title: specific job-title:

Cicero’s administrative staffCicero’s administrative staff

dispensatordispensator = steward – his freedman = steward – his freedman Philotimus Philotimus

actuariusactuarius = bookkeeper (supervised by = bookkeeper (supervised by Philotimus)Philotimus)

ad manumad manum (the slave Tiro) – personal (the slave Tiro) – personal secretary – also used for financial matters secretary – also used for financial matters when neededwhen needed

librariilibrarii (several slaves) = clerks who also (several slaves) = clerks who also functioned as copyistsfunctioned as copyists

tabellariitabellarii (several slave messengers) (several slave messengers)

“There came to the house of Cicero at midnight men who were the leading and most powerful Romans, Marcus Crassus, Marcus Marcellus, and Scipio Metellus. Summoning the door- keeper they bade him wake Cicero and tell him they were there” (Plutarch, Cic. 15)

Cicero’s Cicero’s familia urbana familia urbana

Although member of senatorial elite – Although member of senatorial elite – compared to other elite households compared to other elite households had relatively few slaves with a had relatively few slaves with a specific job-title: specific job-title:

Cicero’s administrative staffCicero’s administrative staff

dispensatordispensator = steward – his freedman = steward – his freedman Philotimus Philotimus

actuariusactuarius = bookkeeper (supervised by = bookkeeper (supervised by Philotimus)Philotimus)

ad manumad manum (the slave Tiro) – personal (the slave Tiro) – personal secretary – also used for financial matters secretary – also used for financial matters when neededwhen needed

librariilibrarii (several slaves) = clerks who also (several slaves) = clerks who also functioned as copyistsfunctioned as copyists

tabellariitabellarii (several slave messengers) (several slave messengers)

Identity of SlavesIdentity of Slaves

Slaves identified with the Slaves identified with the domusdomus (household) of the family that owned (household) of the family that owned them.them.

Slaves also identified with their workSlaves also identified with their workPride in professions Pride in professions

Affection for a nurseAffection for a nurse

““To the Spirits of the Dead. To the Spirits of the Dead. To Servia To Servia

Cornelia Sabina, freedwoman of Cornelia Sabina, freedwoman of Servius. Servius Cornelius Dolabella Servius. Servius Cornelius Dolabella Metillanus made this for his nurse Metillanus made this for his nurse

and ‘mummy’ (and ‘mummy’ (nutrici et mammuinutrici et mammui), ), who well deserved it” (who well deserved it” (ILS 8532)ILS 8532)

Slave professionsSlave professions

shopkeepers, traders,shopkeepers, traders, bankers, money-lenders, often operated as bankers, money-lenders, often operated as

their owners’ managers and agents, had their owners’ managers and agents, had great degree of latitude and great degree of latitude and independence. (business activities: independence. (business activities: negotia negotia

Any number of business could be in hands Any number of business could be in hands of slaves, bought houses, traded cattle or of slaves, bought houses, traded cattle or slaves, were innkeepers, slaves, were innkeepers,

Were captains of cargo ships, ferries, Were captains of cargo ships, ferries,

Skilled slaves: apprenticeship Skilled slaves: apprenticeship contracts contracts

((Stud.Pal.XXIStud.Pal.XXII 40) ca. 140 CEI 40) ca. 140 CE ““Contract between Segathis, daughter of Satobous Contract between Segathis, daughter of Satobous

from village of Soknopaiou Nesos, about 60 years from village of Soknopaiou Nesos, about 60 years old …has handed over to Pausiris, son of old …has handed over to Pausiris, son of Panemmeus, weaver….her slave girl whose name is Panemmeus, weaver….her slave girl whose name is Taorsenouphis to learn the skill of weaving for a Taorsenouphis to learn the skill of weaving for a period of one year and two months, ..The child shall period of one year and two months, ..The child shall be fed and clothed by Pausiris. All public taxes be fed and clothed by Pausiris. All public taxes pertaining to the trade shall be paid by Pausiris and pertaining to the trade shall be paid by Pausiris and the girl shall not be absent from the house of the girl shall not be absent from the house of Pausiris by day or night without his authority. And Pausiris by day or night without his authority. And for whatever number of days she is idle through the for whatever number of days she is idle through the fault of her mistress or is sick or neglects her fault of her mistress or is sick or neglects her duties, she shall remain for an equal number of duties, she shall remain for an equal number of days in compensation after the set time……”days in compensation after the set time……”

The Benefits of having The Benefits of having skilled slavesskilled slaves

Roman senators prohibited from being involved Roman senators prohibited from being involved in large-scale businesses - Slaves functioning in large-scale businesses - Slaves functioning as agents allowed them to circumvent this lawas agents allowed them to circumvent this law

Similarly, woman were legally prohibited from Similarly, woman were legally prohibited from participating in many business and legal participating in many business and legal transactions -Slaves allowed them to transactions -Slaves allowed them to circumvent restrictions and provided them with circumvent restrictions and provided them with economic autonomyeconomic autonomy

In absence of children – slaves could take care In absence of children – slaves could take care of their elderly owners and provide income for of their elderly owners and provide income for them working as weavers, skilled artisans, etc.them working as weavers, skilled artisans, etc.

The meaning of workThe meaning of work

From perspective of elite, work was From perspective of elite, work was demeaningdemeaning

From slave perspective – work From slave perspective – work provided them with an identity that provided them with an identity that allowed them to participate in allowed them to participate in societysociety

Pride in work displayed on Pride in work displayed on tombstones of slaves and ex-slavestombstones of slaves and ex-slaves

The treatment of slavesThe treatment of slaves1 incentives and Rewards1 incentives and Rewards

2. punishments2. punishments3. legal protection3. legal protection

(law and social practice)(law and social practice)

Grave reliefGrave relief

Master and Master and mistress with mistress with slaves – note the slaves – note the iconography of iconography of slavesslaves

Morning ToiletteMorning Toilette

A wealthy mistress A wealthy mistress and her personal and her personal slavesslaves

Little IuniusLittle Iunius

Pompeian wall paintingPompeian wall painting

Grave Relief for wealthy Grave Relief for wealthy mastermaster

Slaves in the kitchenSlaves in the kitchen

Triclinium (dining room)Triclinium (dining room)

Kitchen – House of the Tragic Kitchen – House of the Tragic PoetPoet

House of MysteriesHouse of Mysteries

Kitchen UtensilsKitchen Utensils

House of Black AnchorHouse of Black AnchorGarden Garden

Herculaneum HouseHerculaneum Housesummersummer triclinium triclinium, garden, garden

Culina (kitchen) modelCulina (kitchen) model

Cubiculum (bedroom)Cubiculum (bedroom)