The evidence provided by sources from Pompeii and Herculaneum for- Social Structure Freedmen Slaves

Social Structure Social structure in Pompeii and Herculaneum was divided into three broad categories: -Slaves -Those freed from slavery -Freeborn It appears from existing documentary evidence from Campanian towns that a large proportion of the population of Pompeii was likely to have been of servile origin, creating an obvious ethnic and genetic diversity in the relativity small total number.

Freedmen In Pompeii, the bulk of freed men and women were associated with crafts, trade and commerce. Slaves could be freed by their owner in then brief ceremony of manumission and freedmen (Liberti) maintained a close connection with their former owner and took their name as one of their own.

Slaves Slavery played a significant role in Roman society. Slaves, through capture and auction, or as the offspring of a slave mother, belonged solely to their master.

Stone Carving of Female Slaves dressing a Woman This wall carving depicts slaves attending to their master.

Cast of a Slave in Pompeii

Slave girl Bracelet "Dominus suae ancillae" was the inscription on one gold bracelet in the form of a snake, which weighed a pound and had diamonds for eyes.

Mosaic of slaves working This mosaic depicts two slaves working.

Housing in Pompeii Houses found in Pompeii show that there was obvious separation of classes which can be seen through the Architecture.

Statues Satues found in Pompeii and Herculaneum depict the different social classes.

Graffiti Graffiti found on walls in Pompeii and Herculaneum give us ideas of social classes: E.G. Politicians, Gladiators, Shop Owners etc.

Shops Shops help to give an insight to the occupations of different classes, for example A Freeborn may be a Merchant where a Freedman may be a wealthy business person or shop owner.

Social venues The theatre and other social venues had room and allocated seating for various different classes. For example, the higher your class the better your view.

House of the Moralist The house of the Moralist belonged to a freedman. Freedmens houses usually consisted of 8-13 bedrooms and generally had only one garden.

Shops run by Freedmen Along the streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum you would find many shops that were owned and run by Freedmen.

Rivalled Pompeian Elite Freedman houses such as the one of the Vettii Brothers- “Imitated the cultural language of the nobility in order to establish their membership in that society” Wallace-Hadrill.