Social Structure

The Elite

• Who: Senatorial and local elite

• What: Wealthy landowners/merchants, often duumviri and aediles

• Example: Marcus Nonius Balbus (H) —> Praetor of Rome, Proconsul of Crete and Cyrene, Patronus of Herculaneum —> financed the building of the Suburban Baths and the statue of the emperor Vespasian linking him to the imperial cult

  • Inscription on the base of the Marcus Nonius Balbus statue by one of his freedmen

Freeborn

• Who: Heirs of individuals who were not slaves

• What: Business owners

• Privileges: Higher social status and respect, right for males to vote in local and Roman elections, could have slaves

Freedmen

• Who: Former slaves who had been manumitted

• Privileges: Could own businesses, property, vot

• COULD NOT participate in local elections/run in local elections

• Example: The Vetti brothers

• Took on name of former master as their own

Women

• Lack of written record so most info comes from archaeological sources (graffiti, mosaics, frescoes, statues)

• Privileges: Could own property, inherit part of father’s estate, had religious roles, could make own wills

• Restrictions: Could not vote, but expressed opinion on politics as 14.5% of electoral graffiti was written by females (P)

• Roles:

  • Upper-class women could read and write (Portrait of baker and his wife holding a stylus —> House of the Baker, P)

  • However the reality for most women in Pompeii and Herculaneum was a life holding a domestic role, completing household jobs, looking after children etc.

  • Many were slaves

Slaves

• Who: Those birn into enslavement or who had been captured in warfare

• What:

  • Household domestic servants

  • Farmers on agricultural estates

  • Prostitutes in brothels

  • Bath house attendants

  • Cloth cleaners in the fullonica

  • Gladiators

  • Entertainers

  • Tutors (especially if coming from conquered nations)

• Examples:

  • Skeleton of a slave in chains in the basement of the House of the Mosaic Columns (P)

  • Skeleton of a slave girl with a gold snake bracelet inscribed with “From the master to his salve girl”

• Privileges: Own property, earn a wage, marry and have children, could buy freedom

  • Manumissions tax = 5% of their total worth to their master

Eumachia

• Who: Public priestess of the Imperial Cult in Pompeii, patron of the fullers

• Constructed:

  • A building for herself on the Eastern side of the Forum

    • On outside of building inscription, “Eumachia, daughter of Lucius”

    • Fullers dedicated The Statue of Eumachia to her, “Eumachia, daughter of Lucius”

      • Women still subservient to the Paterfamilias

      • But could accrue wealth independent of males

  • Her own seat tomb = largest to date found in Pompeii

Mamia

• Who: Prominent priestess at Pompeii

• Constructed:

  • Contributed to the Eastern side of the Forum as a generous benefactor

    • Temple of Vespasian “on her own land and at her own expense” = women could control finances and own land

• Tomb:

  • Seat tomb

  • Awarded to her “by decree of the town councilors” (the curia) emphasising prominent position in society

Julia Felix

Owned:

• A large estate

  • Private bath complex

  • Pool

  • Expansive gardens

  • Inscription on front of property revealed some of her baths, and rooms were for lease revealing that women could be landlords