Life As A Slave In Pompeii and Rome

Take a peek at the new exhibit at Pompeii that focuses on the marginalized of Pompeii: slaves, artisans, members of the lower classes. This exhibit, which runs all of 2024, is held in the large palestra inside Pompeii. It is not to be missed, with many engaging displays and recent discoveries from Pompeii. Watch the tour; then plan your visit!
0:00 Introduction
1:07 Digital storytelling of marginalized of Pompeii
1:23 Childhood
1:49 What the poor ate
2:15 Bedrooms of the poor, enslaved
3:31 Slave shackles
4:17 The enslaved depicted in art
4:54 Leisure activités for all in Pompeii
6:02 Amphorae found in Pompeii
6:22 Artisans at work in Pompeii: materials and depicts in forum
7:04 Death in Pompeii: lower class experiences
This video was made possible from the CAAS Masciantonio Award!
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[@simplepixel5617]

Heartbreaking and fascinating at the same time.

[@KonradAdenauerJr]

Fascinating stuff. Thank you for showcasing ordinary Romans' and slaves' situation more clearly.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thanks for continuing to watch and comment!

[@user-misspoken]

I stand corrected

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

It's almost inconcievable that Roman artisans were "lower class." Today, artisanal products often sell at a premium.

[@user-misspoken]

Ummm ever heard of starving artest 😅

[@lapsedluddite3381]

@user-misspoken - Umm - artisans are craftspeople who create useful things that everyone needs and uses - artists are people who create art - which enriches one's life, but is not actually necessary to sustain it. Artists were often revered, while artisans were apparently taken for granted. (also, "wealth" does not necessarily equate "high class")

[@mwj5368]

Again a great presentation. What was a typical day like for a slave. Also what happened to them if they tried to escape and were caught? I suppose details like that are not revealed and maybe will be found in the scrolls of Herculaneum. I saw the like diary entry of a former slave stating how he received part of his owner's house and the owner moved away by what seems years of earthquakes that happened there. I wonder if the volcano presently there will first give years of warning too with earthquakes etc.

[@AncientRomeLive]

The exhibit covers a lot more than we shared. Get the catalog or make a visit for more details!

[@AncientRomeLive]

The earthquake in 62 was a warning.. But people soon forgot. The city was a busy place with lots of restoration and rebuilding... Little did they know!

[@pigdroppings]

The last eruption of the volcano was in 1944 during WW2. There have been 10 other eruptions from 1850 to 1944, with apparently little damage. The big damage to Pompeii in WW2 was from bombing by the Allies, British and Americans. About 150 bombs fell on Pompeii. The Allies were trying to bomb a nearby railroad but many of the bombs missed their target. About 20,000 Italian civilians were killed in the Naples area by Allied bombing during WW2.

[@ericastier1646]

Very pleasant narration tone and intonation, more relaxed timing and rhythm. You're improved a lot your style, it's nice to see your continuous improvements. I knew you had a lot of potential years ago keep on getting better.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thank you very much!

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

Pompeii was certainly a better fate than going into the mines, but still. I remember one of the houses had a slave room, a whole family squeezed in a few windowless square meters and probably required to spend any idle time there. Or the infamous brothel of Pompeii, also staffed by slaves. From today's perspective, it's hard to comprehend that you don't find anyone in antiquity thinking there's something wrong here.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Yes, slavery was an acceptable fact through ancient Rome's history. Some were better than others. As you note- a household slave vs. a slave in the quarries... Romans also offered many a chance to become freed; the freedmen class flourished under the empire.

[@A_Eichler]

You packed a lot of wow into a short video!

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thanks- and the exhibit still has a LOT more content - worth seeing.

[@huibjanniessink4134]

I am always in Rome in October and visit the parts of the city that Darius is telling about. He is a fantastic guide👍👍👍

[@AncientRomeLive]

Couldn't agree more!

[@emiliaarya3614]

Very fascinating! Thanks for sharing 🤗🤗🤗

[@nancytestani1470]

Amazing..this is so cool.

[@johnvonundzu2170]

Thank you for this. It looks fascinating! Are there any known graffiti referencing runaway slaves, offering a reward, etc.?

[@AncientRomeLive]

Yes, and more!

[@rynneivarsson751]

What a fantastic museum, thank you for sharing this.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@shez3530]

i enjoy your videos . im from sheffield in the uk, but ancient rome was beautiful and relaxing . more comforts and better lives for people ❤️🇬🇧

[@kevin02mulder]

Sheffield had many Romans and Romanized Britons it was a huge farmers hub :) west of Humber hill there used to be one of the first Roman forts with a harbor for the trade ships

[@lisakilmer2667]

Really good. Thanks

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thank you too!

[@marial8235]

Excellent preservation. ❤

[@AncientRomeLive]

Absolutely

[@tunnus.123]

Great.

[@andyroo9381]

Looking at this overview of the city of Pompeii, you then realize how large it was.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Absolutely!

[@user-uz2op6og3l]

Interesting!

[@AncientRomeLive]

Glad you think so!

[@user-bc4kt6nc1p]

Wow. That looks so interesting. I think when it comes to covering ancient life the common people are often overlooked. Although this may be true for most of history. So this is a temporary exhibition only for this year?

[@AncientRomeLive]

Yes til the end of December 2024

[@Khaib123]

I just love Pompeii, if I had enough money I would go every summer

[@AnnelieKruger-ib3gx]

What nationalities were the slaves?

[@AncientRomeLive]

Various- What mattered to the Romans was that they were from outside the empire or not free Roman citizens.

[@tr7b410]

Slavery actually deferred the industrial age until a later date.We see this in the deep south in America when the cotton harvester was not mass produced until after WW2.

[@neon-kitty]

Was slaves wearing shorter tunics a Roman thing or was that also common in Greek and Hellenistic culture?

[@neon-kitty]

@@kevin02mulder Sorry, just to clarify, are you talking about Roman norms or Greek norms there or both? Cause I'm specifically interested in the Greek/Hellenistic side of things.

[@neon-kitty]

@@kevin02mulder Cool, thank you :)!

[@AncientRomeLive]

Short tunics were commonly worn by many people, depending on the social context... But as you can see from this context, the merchants are wearing what are identified as longer tunics (and not togas), distinguished from the enslaved people in tunics carrying the crate.

[@merv19451]

​@@kevin02mulder😊

[@timsmith2279]

4:53 These group of men in long Toga look so much like ancient Egyptians! Wonder if there was any DNA connection between the Romans and the ancient Egyptians?

[@mirkocaserta]

If I were the head of RAI, I'd give you a show in prima serata every week.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Grazie! Puoi sempre vedere Under Italy! Su Raiplay!

[@mirkocaserta]

@@AncientRomeLive woah, I had no idea you had a series on Rai Play. That's great! I'll be watching it over the next days. Grazie mille!

[@lesleymottram3937]

Slaves were awarded freedom, and were not badly treated, as seen on documentaries on uk tv..

[@jpaulc441]

_"...From pliant virgins to learned Greeks... Rufus has slaves... for EVERY budget!"_

[@jimplummer4879]

Ancient Rome could not run without slaves.

[@AncientRomeLive]

It was a way of life in Roman society. It was the reality of their neighbors as well.

[@jimplummer4879]

@@kevin02mulder I completely understand that,

[@CH-vv2hr]

WOW... Pompeii was preserved for a reason... I believe it was God's will because he wanted us to see comparisons to modern life. Pompeii is a magical place and is also probably cursed

[@eddiemunster8634]

People marginalize themselves, They are not marginalized by others

[@lyndacole5676]

Please point your camera towards where you are walking and not at your face, nostril shots are not good!!!

[@AncientRomeLive]

Yes!

[@Diogenes_43]

This whole obsession with slaves and plebs needs to stop.

[@AncientRomeLive]

There have not been many exhibits of this nature. It's an opportunity to share more archaeological content from Pompeii -filling in a needed void. We agree with the creation of this exhibit and applaud the efforts of @pompeiisites to bring more attention to these areas typically neglected in scholarship.

[@lesliea7394]

Amazing treasures from the past....and so much of good quality. Blows me away.

[@Priscilla89]

Can’t listen to this narration . Unsubscribe