Week 2 - Archaic Slavery

Which source shows masters freely beating and killing slaves, and Odysseus furious because suitors slept with his slave women?

Od. 4.244–6; 22.440–73; 20.5–30; 22.35–41

Which text enumerates Odysseus’ 12 cattle herds, 12 sheep flocks, etc., run by slaves and xenoi?

Od. 14.100–108

Which text lists the household tasks of female slaves: sweeping, freshening floors, washing tables, cleaning cups, and fetching water?

Od. 20.147–54

Which passage presents the poor as pelatai/hektemoroi, enslaved to the rich, with body-pledging?

[Aristotle] Ath. Pol. 2.1–3

Where do we hear that debtors “could be seized… some becoming slaves at home, others sold abroad”?

Plutarch, Solon 13

Which passage presents the poor as pelatai/hektemoroi, enslaved to the rich, with body-pledging? -“…they themselves and their wives and children were in slavery (edouleuon)… all borrowing was on the security of the body.”

[Aristotle] Ath. Pol. 2.1–3

Which source has Solon declaring: “dark Earth… from whom I lifted horoi… slave before, now free”?

Solon fr. 36 (West)

Which passage reports Androtion’s view that Solon reduced interest rather than abolished debt?

Plutarch, Solon 15