greek mythology

aigina

A Greek island (G)

Xenophone’s poroi

"Ways and Means," is written by the Greek historian and philosopher Xenophon and focuses on Athens's economic situation and potential strategies for improving its public finances. (G)

vernae

home-born slaves, those born into slavery on the estate of their masters (R)

vindicta

Latin “vengeance" or "revenge"

serfdom

sparta, a condition of forced labor and servitude (R)

patronus

a man who gave assistance and protection to another person, Roman or non-Roman, who thereby became his client. In return clients gave their patrons respect, (R)

nexum

debt bondage (R)

mariandynoi

an ancient tribe in the north-east of Bithynia (G)

metic (metoikos)

a free non-citizen who lived in a city-state (polis) but was not a citizen

ionians

an ancient Greek people who migrated to Asia Minor and established colonies there (G)

Arginoussai

A naval battle in the Peloponnesian War where slaves fought (G)

Attica/Athens

Region and city in Greece (G)

Chios

A Greek island known for the slave trade. (G)

delphi

Site of the famous oracle in Greece. (G)

laurion silver mines

Mines in Athens where slaves worked. (G)

Messenian Wars

Conflicts where Sparta enslaved the Messenians (Helots). (G)

Sparta

Greek city (G)

Aristonicus of Pergamum

Led a slave revolt in Asia Minor. (G)

Aristotle

Greek philosopher who justified slavery as "natural." (G)

Athenaeus

A Greek writer who recorded information about banquets and slavery. (G)

Athenion

A leader of a slave revolt in Athens. (G)

Augustus

First Roman emperor who made laws on slavery. (R)

Marcus Porcius Cato

Roman statesman who treated slaves harshly (Cato in the hunger games, he treated everyone who was inferior to his harshly) (R)

Columella

Wrote about farming, including the use of slaves. (R)

M. Licinius Crassus

Rome's most wealthy man

M. Licinius Crassus

Roman general who crushed Spartacus' slave revolt and romes wealthy man (R)

Dio Chrysostom

A philosopher who wrote about slavery. (G)

Drimakos of Chios

A slave leader who set up a refuge for runaway slaves. (G)

Eunous

A famous slave rebel who claimed to have divine powers. (R)

Neaira

A slave courtesan (prostitute) involved in a famous legal case. (G)

Paul the Apostle

Christian leader who wrote about slaves in his Letter to Philemon (Paul asks Philemon to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus)

Salvian

A Roman writer who criticized slavery (R)

Salvius/Tryphon

Leaders of the Second Sicilian Slave War. salvius is roman and tryphon is greek

Spartacus

Leader of a major slave revolt against Rome. (R)

(Publius Terentinus Afer) Terence

A Roman playwright who was once enslaved. (R)

Trimalchio (cena trimalcionis)

A freed slave in *Satyricon*, known for his wealth and excess. (R)

Andrapoda / Andrapodism

Enslaved captives (G)

Aqueduct slave workers

Slaves who built and maintained Roman aqueducts. (R)

Barbaroi

Barbarians, who didnt speak greek (G)

Chattel slavery

Slaves as property

Cliens / Clientela

A system of patron (R)

Coercive alienation

Forcing someone into slavery.

Colonate

Tenant farmers who were like serfs.

Colonial enslavement

Enslaving people in conquered lands.

craftsmen (as slaves)

skilled slaves used for trade and labor.

Dēmotikoi / Dēmosioi

Public slaves owned by the state (G)

Debt bondage (Nexum)

People who became slaves due to debt. (R)

Dediticii

A lower legal class of freed slaves. (R)

Defensor civitatis

A city official who protected people, including slaves. (R)

doulos

greek word for slave (G)

Eleutheros / Apeleutheros

a freed person (G)

exposure

abandoning unwanted babies, often leading to enslavement.

familia

Household, including slaves (R)

Familia (domus) Caesaris

Slaves of the Roman emperor (R)

Fictive sale

Pretending to sell a slave to set them free.

Fiscal slaves

Slaves owned by the state for financial work.

Freedman (Libertinus)

A former slave who gained freedom.

Gortyn Code

A legal code about slavery from Crete. (G)

Hectēmoroi

Poor farmers in Athens, often in debt bondage. (G)

Helots

Spartan serfs (public slaves who had different but limited rights than private slaves) (G)

Hetariai

highly educated female companion in ancient Greece who served as an artist, entertainer, and conversationalist (G)

homeric slavery

slavery is depicted as a common practice (labor in fields, orchards, and domestic tasks) (G)

Humiliores / Honestiores

Lower vs. upper social classes in Rome. (R)

Junian Latins

A legal class of freed slaves with limited rights. (R)

Justinian's Code

Roman law that included rules on slavery. (R)

Khōris oikountes

slaves who lived separately from their masters.

Killyrioi / Klarotai

Slave classes in different Greek regions. (G)

Krypteia

Spartan secret police who controlled Helots. (G)

Latifundia

Large Roman estates worked by slaves. (R)

Lēisteia (Piracy)

A common way Greek people were enslaved. (G)

Lex Aelia Sentia

Roman laws about freeing slaves. Age restrictions that ensured slaves weren’t becoming free to early on (R)

Lex Fufia Caninia

roman laws about freeing slaves: limited the amount of slaves that can be freed through masters will (R)

Lex Junia Norbana

roman laws about freeing slaves, created new status of Junian latins (R)

Mancipium

Legal ownership of a slave (R)

Manumission

The act of freeing a slave.

manumission by vindicta

Freed through a legal ceremony. (R)

manumission By census

Freed by being counted in the census. (R)

manumission By will

Freed in an owner's will.

Manumission in church

Freed in a religious setting. (R)

Marriage of freedwomen

Freedwomen had legal limits on whom they could marry. (R)

Moral inversion (of slaves)

The idea that slaves could be more moral than their masters.

New Comedy (slaves in)

Roman plays often featuring clever slave characters. (R)

Obsequium

Respect freed slaves owed their former masters. (R)

Officia (of freedmen)

Duties performed by freed slaves for their patrons.

Oikētēs

household slaves (G)

Oikos

household or family unit (G)

Pais / Puer

Greek and Latin words for a young male slave.

Paramonē

A freed slave still required to serve their master. (G)

Pater familias (Patria potestas)

The head of a Roman household with power over family and slaves. (R)

Patrocinium

A freed slave's continued dependence on their former master. (R)

Peculium

Money or property a slave could save to buy freedom. (R)

Pedagogues

Slaves who educated children. (G)

Peletai / Penestai

Thessalian serfs (G)

Phialai (manumission)

A symbolic act of freeing slaves. (G)

Plebeian secessions

Protests by the lower Roman class, sometimes related to slavery. (R)

Proscriptions (slaves during)

When political enemies were executed, their slaves were often freed. (R)

Saturnalia

(R) A festival where slaves were temporarily treated as equals.

Satyricon (Petronius)

A Roman novel featuring freed slaves. (R)

Scriniae

Bureaucratic offices often staffed by slaves.

Servus / Servitium

Latin for slave/slavery.