Slaves Tending Mistresses Hair
- the rich mistress has three women [shown] fixing up her hair
-two slaves fix up the hair, one holds the mirror, and the hand of a slave to the far right is holding a water jug
Document 1:
This contract on papyrus records the sale, in 142 CE, of ten-year-old Abaskantis:
In the consulship of L. Cuspius Rufinus and L. Statius Quadratus, at Side, before L.
Claudius Auspicatus, demiurge and priest of the goddess Roma, on 26 Loos. Pamphilos, otherwise known as Kanopos, son of Aigyptos, from Alexandria, has purchased in the marketplace from Artemidoros, son of Aristokles, the slave girl Abaskantis, or by whatever other name she may be known, a ten-year-old Galatian, for the sum of 280 silver denarii. M. Aelius Gavianus stands surety for and guarantees the sale. The girl is healthy, in accordance with the Edict of the Aediles … is free of liability in all respects, is prone neither to wandering nor running away, and is free of epilepsy …
Source: P. Turner 22, in Keith R. Bradley, Slavery and Society at Rome (Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1994), 2.
Background:
This source provides a general understanding for what a contract for selling slaves looked like. This documents tells the reader how much a healthy young girl was worth as a slave, and what kind of slave Abaskantis was. It was important to have a well functioned slave in order for the slave to be able to work for their masters. For example, the contract states that Abaskantis is "free from epilepsy" which is a brain disease. If Abaskantis did have epilepsy then it would be difficult to sell a slave that does not think correctly. Slaves were valuable to each master, and it was important to take care of them.
This contract on papyrus records the sale, in 142 CE, of ten-year-old Abaskantis:
In the consulship of L. Cuspius Rufinus and L. Statius Quadratus, at Side, before L.
Claudius Auspicatus, demiurge and priest of the goddess Roma, on 26 Loos. Pamphilos, otherwise known as Kanopos, son of Aigyptos, from Alexandria, has purchased in the marketplace from Artemidoros, son of Aristokles, the slave girl Abaskantis, or by whatever other name she may be known, a ten-year-old Galatian, for the sum of 280 silver denarii. M. Aelius Gavianus stands surety for and guarantees the sale. The girl is healthy, in accordance with the Edict of the Aediles … is free of liability in all respects, is prone neither to wandering nor running away, and is free of epilepsy …
Source: P. Turner 22, in Keith R. Bradley, Slavery and Society at Rome (Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1994), 2.
Background:
- A contact on the sale and purchase of a 10 year-old Abaskantis in 142 CE.
- Pamphilos bought Abaskantis from Artemidoras for 280 silver denarii.
- Abaskantis is free of all debt, has a natural tendency to never wander nor run away, and does not have epilepsy (disorder in the brain).
- Abaskantis is healthy according to the Roman law.
This source provides a general understanding for what a contract for selling slaves looked like. This documents tells the reader how much a healthy young girl was worth as a slave, and what kind of slave Abaskantis was. It was important to have a well functioned slave in order for the slave to be able to work for their masters. For example, the contract states that Abaskantis is "free from epilepsy" which is a brain disease. If Abaskantis did have epilepsy then it would be difficult to sell a slave that does not think correctly. Slaves were valuable to each master, and it was important to take care of them.
Types of slaves |
Prices |
[Male
slave …] Between
the ages of 16 and 40 |
30,000
denarii |
Female
of age above-specified |
25,000
denarii |
Man
between 40 and 60 |
25,000
denarii |
Female
of age above-specified |
20,000
denarii |
Boy
between 8 and 16; also girl of age above-specified |
20,000
denarii |
Man
over 60 or under 8 |
15,000
denarii |
Female
of age above-specified |
10,000
denarii |