1. The familia urbana

2. familia urbana Included domestic slaves in country-side
Slaves engaged in producing wealth for owner
Slaves provided service for owner;
Functioned as display of owner’s wealth;

3. Size of slave familia Wide variety
Pedanius Secundus had 400 slaves (all executed for his murder)
The freedman C. Caecilius Isidorus owned 4,116 slaves when he died in 8 BCE
Melania the Younger manumitted 8000 slaves in the 5th century when she became a Christian ascetic
Average upper-class household in late Republic probably in the range of 100

4. Job titles in familia urbana
number of slaves with specific job-titles was an indicator of a slave-owner’s wealth
See Trimalchio’s Dinner chapter 5

5. Livia’s familia urbana
Livia, Augustus’ wife, one of wealthiest Romans; had a very large familia including many specialized slaves:
In her bedroom alone she had six cubicularii
had her own paedogogi for the children in the household
five doctors, a sick bay
More details see page 62-63

6. Slave hierarchy Rustici were inferior to urbani
Each slave familia had own internal occupational hierarchy
skilled slaves in household were superior to less skilled slaves, i.e. dispensator (steward) superior to a pedisequa (female attendant); skilled craftsmen superior to an unskilled domestic servant
Slaves of prominent Romans were superior to slaves of ordinary Romans
familia caesaris superior to any privately owned slaves
Slave hierarchies contributed to absence of common identity among Roman slave

7. use of slaves in conspicuous consumption display of wealth
Slaves used as retinues:
Cato the Younger while military tribune in 67 B.C. had with him 15 slaves, 2 liberti, and 4 amici,
Scipio Africanus had with him 5 slaves, Caesar 3,
Cicero also small retinue – but had to borrow some slaves while campaigning for consulship to look appropriately wealthy and worthy
In large urban households the slave familia did not produce income but was an expense

8. Number of slaves in a household
Cannot quantify number of slaves for most households
But the more specialized slaves were, the larger was the familia urbana of a Roman
Cicero, although a Roman consul, had relatively modest wealth – most slaves performed more than one task
More humble people had 1 or 2 slaves who did everything in and around the house

9. Where did household slaves live
Household slaves lived in same house as owner
Small rooms cellae
(Pliny the Younger, Ep – is an exception – he was so wealthy that he had separate buildings on his property to house slaves)

10. Cicero’s familia urbana
Although member of senatorial elite – compared to other elite households had relatively few slaves with a specific job-title:

11. Cicero’s administrative staff
dispensator = steward – his freedman Philotimus
actuarius = bookkeeper (supervised by Philotimus)
ad manum (the slave Tiro) – personal secretary – also used for financial matters when needed
librarii (several slaves) = clerks who also functioned as copyists
tabellarii (several slave messengers)

12. “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)

13. Cicero’s familia urbana
Although member of senatorial elite – compared to other elite households had relatively few slaves with a specific job-title:

14. Cicero’s administrative staff
dispensator = steward – his freedman Philotimus
actuarius = bookkeeper (supervised by Philotimus)
ad manum (the slave Tiro) – personal secretary – also used for financial matters when needed
librarii (several slaves) = clerks who also functioned as copyists
tabellarii (several slave messengers)

15. Identity of Slaves
Slaves identified with the domus (household) of the family that owned them.
Slaves also identified with their work
Pride in professions

16. Affection for a nurse
“To the Spirits of the Dead To Servia Cornelia Sabina, freedwoman of Servius. Servius Cornelius Dolabella Metillanus made this for his nurse and ‘mummy’ (nutrici et mammui), who well deserved it” (ILS 8532)

17. Slave professions shopkeepers, traders,
bankers, money-lenders, often operated as their owners’ managers and agents, had great degree of latitude and independence. (business activities: negotia
Any number of business could be in hands of slaves, bought houses, traded cattle or slaves, were innkeepers,
Were captains of cargo ships, ferries,

18. Skilled slaves: apprenticeship contracts
(Stud.Pal.XXII 40) ca. 140 CE
“Contract between Segathis, daughter of Satobous from village of Soknopaiou Nesos, about 60 years old …has handed over to Pausiris, son of Panemmeus, weaver….her slave girl whose name is Taorsenouphis to learn the skill of weaving for a period of one year and two months, ..The child shall be fed and clothed by Pausiris. All public taxes pertaining to the trade shall be paid by Pausiris and the girl shall not be absent from the house of Pausiris by day or night without his authority. And for whatever number of days she is idle through the fault of her mistress or is sick or neglects her duties, she shall remain for an equal number of days in compensation after the set time……”

19. The Benefits of having skilled slaves
Roman senators prohibited from being involved in large-scale businesses - Slaves functioning as agents allowed them to circumvent this law
Similarly, woman were legally prohibited from participating in many business and legal transactions -Slaves allowed them to circumvent restrictions and provided them with economic autonomy
In absence of children – slaves could take care of their elderly owners and provide income for them working as weavers, skilled artisans, etc.

20. The meaning of work From perspective of elite, work was demeaning
From slave perspective – work provided them with an identity that allowed them to participate in society
Pride in work displayed on tombstones of slaves and ex-slaves

21. The treatment of slaves 1 incentives and Rewards 2. punishments 3
The treatment of slaves 1 incentives and Rewards 2. punishments 3. legal protection (law and social practice)

22. Grave relief
Master and mistress with slaves – note the iconography of slaves

23. Morning Toilette
A wealthy mistress and her personal slaves

24. Little Iunius

25. Pompeian wall painting

26. Grave Relief for wealthy master

27. Slaves in the kitchen

28. Triclinium (dining room)

29. Kitchen – House of the Tragic Poet

30. House of Mysteries

31. Kitchen Utensils

32. House of Black Anchor Garden

33. Herculaneum House summer triclinium, garden

34. Culina (kitchen) model

35. Cubiculum (bedroom)