ROMANSLAVERY,PART 2

Freeing slaves was a very commonpractice in Roman culture.

In fact, during the time of the emperor Augustus, the practice of freeing slaves was so common that he had to pass a law limiting when a master could free his slave.

Most slaves were paid a peculium(a small salary) for their services.

Although a slave could use this money to purchase property or even other slaves, most used the money to buy their freedom.

Slaves could also be freed by a master in his will.

Augustan law limited this too, as it decreed that no more than 100slaves could be free at one time in a will.

The act of freeing a slave wascalled manumission.

Manumission was a legal ceremonyusually performed at a basilica bya iudex.

In the presence of one witness, a master would deny his claim on a slave, the slave’s head would be touched with a rod and then declared free by the iudex.

Once freed, the former slave was now a libertus (freedman) or a liberta (freedwoman). Most would now wear a pileus (hat designed for liberti)

Although a libertus did enjoy the full privileges of Roman citizenship and its privileges, there were a few drawbacks:• could not run for public office• could not be a high ranking official in the army• had to work for his former master for a fixed number of days a month• had to serve as a client to his former master

FINIS