Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

1040 SERVUS. SERVUS.
three thousand. (Chrysost. vol. vii. p. 633.) markets. was under tle jluisidiction of the aediles,
Justinian did much to promote the ultimate ex- who made many regulations by edicts respecting the
tinction of slavery; but the mnmber of slaves was sale of slaves. The chllracter of the slave was set
again increased by the invasion of the barbarians forth in a scroll (titulus) hanging round his neck,
from the north, who' not only brought with them which was a warranty to the purchaser (Gell. iv,
their own slaves who were chiefly Sclavi or Sclavo- 2'; Propert. iv. 5.1): the vendor was bound to
nians (whence our word Slave), but also reduced announce fairly all his defects (Dig. 21. tit. 1. s. 1
many of the inhabitants of the conquered provinces Hor. Sat. ii. 3. 284), and if lie gave a false account
to the condition of slaves. But all the various had to take him back within six months from the
classes of slaves became merged in course of time time of his sale (Dig. 21. tit. 1. s. 19. ~ 6), or make
into the Adscripti Glebae or serfs of the middle up to the purchaser what the latter had lost through
ages. obtainiiisr an inferior kind of slave to what had
The chief sources from which the Romans ob- been warranted. (Dig. 1 9. tit. 1. s. 13. ~ 4; Cic.
tained slabves have been pointed out above. Under de Qff iii. 16, 17, 23.) The vendor migh t howthe republic one of the chief supplies was prisoners ever use general terms of commendation withbout
taken in war, wh-o were sold by the qtnaestores being bound to make them good. (Dig. 18. tit. 1.
(Plaut. Cafst. Prol. 34, and i'. 2. 1, 2) with a crown s. 43; 21. tit. 1. s. 19.) The chief points which
oil their heads (see ahboe, p. 1038, b), and usually the vendor had to warrant, was the health of the
on the spot where they wrere taken, as the care of a slave, especially freedom from epilepsy, and that
large number of captives was inconvenlient. Con- Ire had not a tendency to thievery, running away,
sequlently slave-dealers generally accompanied anl or commnitting suicide. (Cic. de W0f. iii. 17.) The
arm:-, and frequently after a great battle had been nation of a slave was considered imnportant, and
gained many thousands were sold at once; when the had to be set forth by the vendor. (Dig. 21. tit. 1.
slave-dealers obtained them for a mere nothing. In s. 31. ~ 21.) Slaves sold without any warranfy
the camp of Luculllus on one occasionl slaves were wore at the time of sale a cai. (pile-s) upon their
sold for four drachmae each. The slave trade was head. (Gell. vii. 4.) Slaves nevly imported were
also carried on to a great extent, and after the fall generally preferred for common work; those who
of Corinth and Carthage Delos was the chief mart had served long were considered artful (veteratores,
for this traffic. When the Cilician pirates had Ter. Hleaut. v. 1. 16); and the pertness and impossession of the Mediterranean as many as 1]0,000 pudence of those born in their master's house
slaves are said to have been imported and sold (vernze, se eabove, p. 1038) wereproverbi-nl. (er-nae
there in one day, (Strab. xiv. p. 668.) A large rsocrcees, leor. Sat. ii. 6. 66; Mart. i. 42, x. 3.)
number came from Thrace and the countries in the The value of slaves depended of course upon
north of Europe, but the chief supply wais from their qualifications; but under the elrpire the inAfrica, and more especially Asia, whence we fre- crease of liuxury and the corruption of morals led
quently read of Phrygians, Lycians, Cappadocians, purchasers to pay immense sums for heautiull
&c. as slaves. slaves, or such as ministered to the caprice or whim
The trade of slave-dealers (iansgonzes) was con- of the purchaser. Eunuchs alwa s- fetched a versy
sidered disreputable, and expressly distinguished high price (Plin. IIT. N. vii. 39. s. 40), and MXlartial
from that of merchants (?2anzqones non zerscatores (iii. 62, xi. 70) speaks of beautifill boys who sold
sed renaliciarsii appellaluter, Dig. 50. tit. 1 6. s. 207; for as much as 100,000 or 200,000 sesterces each
Plaut. Trin. ii. 2. 51); but it was very lucrative, (8851. 8s. 4dcl. and 17701. 16s. Od.). A 7zoreio or
and great fortunes were frequently realized from it. fool'sometinles sold for 20,000 sesterces. (Mart.
The slave-dealer Thoranius, who lived in the time viii. 13.) Slaves who possessed a knowledge of
of Augustus. was a well-known character. (Suet. any art which might bring in profit to their owners,
lugc/. 69; Macrob. Sat. ii. 4; Plin. II. N. vii. 12. also sold for a large sumn. Thus literary men and
s. 10.') Martial (viii. 13) mentions another cele- doctors frequently fetched a high price (Suet; de
brated slave-dealer in his time of the namne of Gar- Ill. Gram..; Plin. II. V. vii. 39. s. 40), and also
gilianus. slaves fitted for the stage, as we see from Cicero's
Slaves were usually sold by auction at Rome. speech on behalf of Q. Ioscius. Female slaves
They were placed either on a raised stone (hence who might bring in gain to their masters by prosde Icpide eoltuZs, Cic. ini Pis. 15; Plaut. Bacc/h. iv. titution were also clear: sometimes 60 minae were
7. 17), or a raised platform (cctaste, Tibull. ii. 3. paid for a girl of this kind. (Plaut. Peos. iv. 4.
60; Persius, vi. 774 Casaubon, cad loc.), so that 113.) Five hundred drachmae (perhaps at that
every one might see and handle them, even if they time about 18!.) seenm to have been a fair price for
did not wish to purchase them. Purchasers nsn- a good ordinary slave il the time of Horace. (Siat.
ally took care to have them stript naked (Senec. ii. 7.43.) In the fourth century a slave capable
Ep. 80; Suet. Aug. 69), for slave-dealers had re- of bearing armss was valued at 25 solidi or aurei.
course to as many tricks to concealpersonal defects [AURnTAI, p, 182, a.]: (Cod. Theod. 7. tit. 13. s.
as the horse-jockeys of modern times: sometimes 13.) In1 the tiue of Justinian the legal valuatiolr
purchasers called in the advice of medical men. of sl'ves was as follows: colllmon slaves, both.
(Claudiain, in E1utrop). i. 35, 36f) Slaves of great male and female, were valued at 20 solidi a
beauty anld rarity were not exhibited to public piece, and under ten years of age at half that
gaze in the common slave-market, but were shown sum; if they were artificers, they were worth 30
to purchasers in private (a'ce2tno talzslata catastae, solidi, if notarii 50, if medical men or midwives
Mart. ix. GO), Newly imported slaves liad their 60; eunuchs under ten years of age were worth
feet whitened with chalk (Plin. /I. N. xxxv. 17. 30 solidi, above that age 50, and if they were
s. 58; Ovid. Am. i. 8. 64), and those that came artificers also, as much as 70. (Cod. 6. tit. 44.
from the East had their cars bored (Juv. i. 104), s. 3.) Female slaves, unless possessed of personal
which we know was a sign of slavery amolng manly attractions, were generally cheaper than male.
Eastern nations. The slave-market, like all other Six hundred seisterces (about 5/.) were thought too