The Roman Guide to Slave Management: A Treatise by Nobleman Marcus Sidonius Falx

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The Roman Guide to Slave Management: A Treatise by Nobleman Marcus Sidonius Falx Page 18

by Jerry Toner


  It was not until the late fourth century that Gregory of Nyssa provided the first Christian text that attacks slavery as an institution (Fourth Homily on Ecclesiastes). Many have seen this as the first ancient text, pagan or Christian, to call for the abolition of slavery, although it is not clear that he is taking what would have been an extreme position for its time. He may simply have been trying to persuade Christian owners to treat their slaves better. Even if he is arguing for abolition, his remained a lone voice in antiquity.

  The story of the crooked slave Callistus, who was later to become pope, from c. AD 217–222, is told by his rival Hippolytus (in The Refutation of All Heresies 9.12.1). This means that we should probably take the story with more than a pinch of salt. It also underlines that we should be careful about seeing one universal Christian attitude towards slavery. Christian views of slavery were as varied as those of the Romans, and changed significantly over time.

  An example of a Christian sermon assuming that slaves are morally inferior can be found in Salvian The Governance of God 4.3. For stricter Christian attitudes towards the sexual exploitation of slaves by their masters see also Salvian 7.4. The Christian emperor Constantine’s law against forcing a slave into prostitution is in the Theodosian Code 15.8.2. Paul sending back the runaway slave Onesimus to his owner is in his Letter to Philemon.

  EPILOGUE

  FAREWELL!

  THESE THEN ARE THE PRINCIPLES that apply to the ownership and management of slaves. If you have read and studied my words with the same care and diligence you should expect of your slaves, then you will have acquired the knowledge you need to manage an efficient and successful household. You will know how to command authority and demand respect among your underlings. You will know something of the theory of slavery. You will understand what makes a slave function well, how best to treat him, and how best to get pleasure from your assets. You will know when the time is right to set your slaves off on the path of freedom, as loyal clients to your cause. You will also appreciate the pitfalls that occupying a high-status position and a leadership role can bring. But you will be all the better able to avoid them. In short, you will know how to be the Master.

  COMMENTARY

  No one now argues, like Falx, that slavery is acceptable or justifiable. But before we congratulate ourselves on how far we have come, we should remember that it is a tragic fact that even though slavery is illegal in every country in the world, it still exists widely. The NGO Free the Slaves estimates that there are 27 million individuals who are forced to work under threat of violence, without pay or hope of escape. There are more slaves in the world today than there were at any point in the life of the Roman empire.

  FURTHER READING

  GOOD TRANSLATIONS OF THE PRIMARY texts can mostly be found in the Loeb Classical Library or Penguin Classics. The three sourcebooks listed below also contain a range of textual selections relating to ancient slavery. The original Latin and Greek texts are most easily accessed in the Loeb Classical Library, which has a facing translation. More thorough editions of the original sources can be found in the Teubner series.

  General works on ancient slavery

  Finley, M. I., Ancient Slavery and Modern Ideology, revised ed. by B. D. Shaw, Princeton, NJ: Markus Wiener Publishers, 1998.

  Finley, M. I. (ed.), Classical Slavery, with a new introduction by W. Scheidel, London: Cass, 1999.

  Garnsey, P., Ideas of Slavery from Aristotle to Augustine, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.

  Heuman, G., and Burnard, T., (eds), The Routledge History of Slavery, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2011.

  Sourcebooks

  Lewis, N., and Reinhold, M. (eds), Roman Civilization: A Sourcebook, New York: Harper Row, 1966.

  Shelton, J., As the Romans Did: A Sourcebook in Roman Social History, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

  Wiedemann, T. E. J., Greek and Roman Slavery, London: Croom Helm, 1981.

  Works on Roman slavery

  Beard, M., ‘Ciceronian Correspondences: Making a Book out of Letters’, In T. P. Wiseman (ed.), Classics in Progress: Essays on Ancient Greece and Rome, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp. 103–44.

  Bradley, K., Slavery and Rebellion in the Roman World 140 B.C.–70 B.C., Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University Press, 1989.

  Bradley, K., Slavery and Society at Rome, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994.

  Bradley, K., Slaves and Masters in the Roman Empire: A Study in Social Control, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984.

  Fitzgerald, W., Slavery and the Roman Literary Imagination, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.

  Glancy, J. A., Slavery in Early Christianity, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.

  Harper, K., Slavery in the Late Roman World, AD 275–425, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011.

  Harris, W. V., ‘Demography, geography and the sources of Roman slaves’, Journal of Roman Studies, 89 (1999), 62–75.

  Hopkins, K., Conquerors and Slaves, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1978.

  Hopkins, K., ‘Novel evidence for Roman slavery’, Past & Present, 138 (1993), 3–27.

  Joshel, S. R., Slavery in the Roman World, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.

  Mouritsen, H., The Freedman in the Roman World, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011.

  Rathbone, D., ‘The slave mode of production in Italy’, Journal of Roman Studies, 73 (1983), 160–68.

  Scheidel, W., ‘Human Mobility in Roman Italy, II: The Slave Population’, Journal of Roman Studies, 95 (2005), 64–79.

  Scheidel, W., ‘Quantifying the sources of slaves in the early Roman Empire’, Journal of Roman Studies, 87 (1997), 156–69.

  Schiavone, A., Spartacus, trans. J. Carden, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2013.

  Shaw, B. (ed. and trans.), Spartacus and the Slave Wars: A Brief History with Documents, Boston, Mass.: Bedford, 2001.

  Toner, J., Popular Culture in Ancient Rome, Cambridge: Polity, 2009.

  Wiedemann, T. E. J., Slavery (Greece & Rome New Surveys in the Classics 19), Oxford: Clarendon, 1987.

  Works on Greek slavery

  Cartledge, P. A., ‘Like a worm i’ the bud? A heterology of classical Greek slavery’, Greece & Rome, 40 (1993), 163–80.

  Cartledge, P. A., ‘Rebels and Sambos in Classical Greece: A Comparative View’, in P. A. Cartledge & F. D. Harvey (eds), Crux: Essays Presented to G.E.M. de Ste. Croix on his 75th Birthday, London: Duckworth, 1985, pp. 16–46.

  Finley, M. I., ‘Was Greek civilisation based on slave labour?’, in his Economy and Society in Ancient Greece, B. D. Shaw and R. P. Saller (eds), London: Chatto & Windus, 1981.

  Fisher, N. R. E., Slavery in Classical Greece, Bristol: Bristol Classical Press, 1993.

  Garlan, Y., Slavery in Ancient Greece, trans. J. Lloyd, Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1988.

  Jameson, M., ‘Agriculture and Slavery in Classical Athens’, Classical Journal, 73 (1977–78), 122–45.

  Osborne, R., ‘The economics and politics of slavery in Athens’, in A. Powell (ed.), The Greek World, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 1995, pp. 27–43.

  Smith, N. D., ‘Aristotle’s theory of natural slavery’, Phoenix, 37 (1983), 109–23.

  Wood, E. M., Peasant-citizen and Slave: The Foundations of Athenian Democracy, London: Verso, 1988.

  INDEX

  A

  abolition 11, 204

  Aesop 158, 164

  Alans 1–2, 11, 13, 200

  Alexander the Great 136

  ambition 181, 183–4, 193

  American slave trade 97

  Androcles 113–15, 118

  anger 107–8, 117

  Aristotle 79

  Army’s use of slaves 170–71

  arson 155–6

  Artemidorus 68–9, 75

  Asclepius 171

  assimilation 176–7, 179–80, 184–5, 194

  Augustus 91–2, 102–3, 116, 122–3, 129, 149, 166, 167–8, 180, 184

&
nbsp; B

  bad masters 83–6, 96–7

  bad slaves 26, 71–2, 159

  bandits 142, 149–52, 162–3

  Batavians 69

  bonuses 39–40, 43, 52–3

  branding 112, 142, 181, 200, 203

  breaking slaves 18–19, 64–5

  breeding slaves 18, 32–3, 72–3, 74–5, 169

  British slave trade 97

  Britons 17, 108

  Bulla Felix 150–52, 162–3, 164

  burial clubs 136–7

  burial, 176, 180

  burning 122

  buying slaves 14–36

  C

  Callistus, Pope 198–200, 204

  Cannae 171

  Cato 29–30, 48–9, 67, 171

  causes of growth in slavery 6–8

  chain gangs 45, 65, 67

  character of slaves 22–3, 24

  child tutors 27, 36, 136

  children 15, 43–4, 47, 50, 66, 71, 108, 125, 174, 175

  Christians 34, 196–204

  Cicero 193

  Circus Maximus 113–15, 137

  Claudius 171–2, 180, 183, 188

  clever slaves 24, 46, 158

  clothing 42

  collars 112

  conspicuous consumption 28, 34–5, 65, 192

  Constantine 203, 204

  contractors 9, 105–6, 107

  contracts 25, 173–4

  corrupting slaves 63

  cost of keeping slaves 32

  country slaves 11, 26, 74, 137, 157, 178

  Crassus 147–9

  crucifixion 105–6, 148, 149

  cruelty 37, 49, 61–2, 67, 88–9, 103, 155

  Curule Aediles’ Edict 17, 35

  D

  damaged goods 24

  death penalty 104–6, 109–10, 126, 129, 153

  decimation 147

  defects in slaves 17, 23–4, 25–6

  deference 193

  Delphic manumission contracts 77, 179

  depressed slaves 25

  Diogenes 31

  domestic slaves 11, 23, 26, 32–3, 48, 64, 74, 77, 137, 138, 178

  Domitian 126–7

  doorkeepers 49–50, 66

  dream interpretation 68–9, 75–6, 101–2

  E

  Easter 200–201

  educated slaves 28, 36, 187–8

  Egyptian boys 17, 69

  electioneering 159, 164

  emperors 108–9, 116, 126, 128–9, 151, 172

  estate management 50–61, 65

  estate visits 59–61, 66

  eunuchs 15, 23–4

  exposing babies 15, 35

  F

  fables 160

  familiarity 135–6

  family life 53, 71–2, 203

  farm manageress 57–8, 73–4

  farm manager 50–60, 66, 67, 73–4

  favourites 69–70, 76–7

  See also pet slaves

  female slaves 26–7, 57–8, 70–2, 94–5, 98, 108, 169, 201

  First Slave War 141–3, 164

  flogging 105–6, 122

  food 39–42, 65

  fraud 58–60

  Free the Slaves (NGO) 206

  freedmen 175–7, 180, 181–95

  freeing slaves see manumission

  G

  gambling 18, 35, 137

  Germans 1, 18, 35, 146

  gladiators 144, 146

  good slaves 26, 89–95

  gossip 159, 164

  Gracchus, Gaius 94

  Greek views on slavery 4–5, 11, 79–83, 97–8

  Gregory of Nyssa 204

  guarantees 25–6

  H

  Hadrian 103, 106–7, 116–17, 124–5

  Hannibal 155–6, 164, 171

  herdsmen 30, 45–8, 67

  hired labour 46–7

  home-bred slaves 18, 64

  hooks as torture 122

  household management 3–4, 8–9, 177

  I

  illegitimate children 70

  imperial freedman 151, 187–9, 194–5

  J

  Jews 199

  jokes 70, 135–6

  Julius Caesar 16, 169, 180

  L

  labourers 46

  Larcius Macedo 154–5, 164

  law courts 120–29

  leg-breaking 2, 13, 122

  legal rights 12, 13, 127, 128

  length of servitude 169, 178–9

  leniency 19, 36, 86–7, 102, 111–12

  loyal slaves 84, 89–95, 99–100

  M

  magic 54, 111, 143, 161, 186, 195

  maintaining slave value 63, 102, 138

  manumission 165–80, 194

  limits 167–8

  bad reasons for, 171, 180

  selling, 172–3

  tax 167

  Marcus Aurelius 68–9, 75

  Mark Antony 21–2, 93–4

  marriage 168–9

  master-murder 123–5, 128, 129, 152–5

  Master, being the 4–5, 205

  Master’s obligations 37–8, 49, 61–2, 64, 98–9, 152

  masters as slaves 88

  millstones 106, 118

  mines 104, 117, 118, 121

  Modern slaves 206

  moral problems 35, 43, 65

  mosaics 105

  motivational techniques 39, 42, 43–6, 52–3, 61–2, 67, 165

  N

  Name-callers 28

  naming 32, 36, 182

  nature of slaves 4–5, 11–12, 80–83, 89, 98

  necessity of slaves 11

  Nero 22, 196

  new slaves 18–19

  numbers of slaves 5, 12–13, 29, 35

  nursemaids 176, 180

  O

  old slaves 47, 49–50, 65–6, 171–2, 180

  olives 41

  Oracles of Astrampsychus 117–18, 178–9

  origin of slaves 17, 19–20

  oversupply of slaves 141–2, 162

  P

  patronage 175–7, 180, 195

  Paul, Saint 197, 203, 204

  peculium 172–3

  Pedanius Secundus 152–4

  pet slaves 17

  Petronius 194

  philosophy of slavery 79–100

  pirates 15, 20, 35, 61, 67

  Plautus 116

  Pliny the Younger 29, 138–9

  ploughmen 46

  Pompey 94

  pregnancies, unwanted 70, 76

  prices for slaves 20–22, 34–6

  prison 106

  prostitution 70–71, 203, 204

  psychological health 77–8

  punishment 3, 19, 29, 37, 62, 84, 88–9, 101–20

  injuries suffered administering 107, 118

  R

  racking 122

  ransoms 16

  rebellions 141–9

  relationships 49, 53, 71, 72–3

  See also marriage

  relaxation 130–39

  religion 39

  See also magic

  resistance 140–64, 203

  runaways 110–15, 117–18, 118–19

  S

  sacking cities 16, 35

  salvation 203

  sanctuary 109, 112, 119, 126

  Sassia 125–6, 128, 129

  Saturnalia 130–35, 138–9

  second-hand slaves 29

  Sejanus 22

  self-esteem 77–8

  self-sufficiency 31, 44–5, 67

  Seneca 64–5, 97, 99–100, 118, 163, 186

  Septimius Severus 150–52

  sex 48–9, 68–78, 133, 201

  sexual abuse 76–8, 203

  shelter 42–3

  shepherds 46–7, 73

  Sicily 141–3, 164

  sickness 48, 49, 57–8, 65–6, 180

  slave traders 14–15, 17, 23–4

  slaves

  as enemies 85, 140

  as friends 87–8

  as humans 83–9, 95–6

  as morally worthless 125

  sleep 48

  social mobility 193–4r />
  soothsayers 54

  sources of slaves 15, 17–18

  Spartacus 140–49, 161–2, 164

  State-owned slaves 28–9, 36, 170

  Statilia 108, 118

  status of slaves 9–10, 12

  Stoicism 64, 97–9, 202

  suicide 25, 77, 94

  T

  Tiberius 91

  tombstones 189–90, 193

  tools 38, 44

  torture 84, 94–5, 120–29

  trade 182, 184

  training slaves 18–19, 38–9, 54–5, 64, 74

  Trajan 29

  trickster tales 160, 164

  Trimalchio 184, 190–92, 194

  triumph 149

  U

  urban slaves 136, 137, 157, 178

  uses of slaves 10, 11, 26

  V

  Vedius Pollio 102, 116, 118

  Vespasian 70–71

  Vesuvius 144–5

  vineyards 46, 29–30

  W

  wild beasts as punishment 104–5, 113–15, 117

  wills 108, 166, 170, 174

  wine 40, 41, 136

  work 39, 43, 44–6

  JERRY TONER is Fellow and Director of Studies in Classics at Churchill College, Cambridge. He is the author of Roman Disasters, Homer’s Turk, and Popular Culture in Ancient Rome.

  MARY BEARD is a Cambridge professor and author of more than a dozen books, including Confronting the Classics.

  Jacket design by Anthony Morais

  Jacket illustration: Roman mosaic from Dougga, Tunisia,

  from Wikimedia Commons

  www.overlookpress.com

 

 

 


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