Roman slaves ancient rome

Slave auction in ancient Rome, with male slaves up for sale.

27. Slaves working in appalling conditions in the quarries

Slavery was an essential part of Roman society and there were more slaves than citizens in Rome. How exactly did slavery function in ancient Rome?

early roman raiding party

Spartans were dependent on slaves to work in the fields

Roman mosaic from Dougga, Tunisia (2nd century AD): the two slaves carrying wine jars wear typical slave clothing and an amulet against the evil eye on a necklace; the slave boy to the left carries water and towels, and the one on the right a bough and a basket of flowers

Ancient Roman slaves lived miserable lives; a slave of a patrician could live in relative comfort, but a laborer could literally be worked to death

a Roman woman being attended to in her ablutions

What was life really like for a Roman slave? Well, it depended on what kind of slave you were. If you were a household slave, you might have had it better than some others. You would have had a place to sleep and regular meals. But you would still be expected to work long hours doing things like coo

An overseer and a group of slaves ~ David J Symons

HOW DID SOMEONE BECOME A SLAVE IN ROME? Ancient Roman Slaves were captured in a war or battle and sent back to Rome to be sold. By 100 B.C one-third of slaves made up Roman's populations. ...

Ancient Roman Striped Tunic Slave Laborer Fabric

In her new book Strike, Sarah Bond explains how Roman workers banded together – much like labor organizing today