One more quick comment
Submitted by A.I. Watcher on January 21 2002 14:58:27
In reply to I don't know if this has any bearing on the matter submitted by A.I. Watcher on January 21 2002 14:12:43
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It would be normal to expect that a Roman man would feel some affection for his slaves. Don't let the term confuse you. Slaves were not free to leave the employ of their masters but they were not slaves in the modern sense of being property. They were actually more like endentured servants who could fully expect to gain their freedom (and the coveted Roman citizenship) in the normal course of their employment. Slaves received the same wages in general as any other working people and were usually treated with basic human dignity and respect. While it was legal to physically abuse slaves and otherwise mistreat them, it was also socially condemned during the period we are discussing. Both Catos had quite a lot to say about that matter. According to Julius Caesar and to Pliny, it was normal for a slave to become quite close to the Roman family he worked for and lived with. Pliny tells us that sometimes bonds of affection could become quite strong in both directions. So if the "boy of me" phrase in Greek were to refer to a certain amount of affection, this would not be unusual. Centurians were the only members of the legions (other than the non-professionals who officered them) who were allowed servants. Not being allowed to socialize with the troops or with the officers, it seems likely that centurians may have had motivation to became friendly with their slaves - something that would not have been atypical anyway in Roman society. |
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