The evidence provided by sources from Pompeii and Herculaneum for- Social Structure

The evidence provided by
sources from Pompeii and
Herculaneum forSocial Structure
Freedmen
Slaves
Social Structure

Social structure in Pompeii and Herculaneum was divided into three
broad categories:
-Slaves
-Those freed from slavery
-Freeborn
It appears from existing documentary evidence from Campanian
towns that a large proportion of the population of Pompeii was likely
to have been of servile origin, creating an obvious ethnic and
genetic diversity in the relativity small total number.
Freedmen


In Pompeii, the bulk of freed men and women
were associated with crafts, trade and
commerce.
Slaves could be freed by their owner in then
brief ceremony of manumission and freedmen
(Liberti) maintained a close connection with their
former owner and took their name as one of
their own.
Slaves

Slavery played a significant role in Roman
society. Slaves, through capture and
auction, or as the offspring of a slave
mother, belonged solely to their master.
Stone Carving of Female Slaves
dressing a Woman

This wall carving depicts slaves attending
to their master.
Cast of a Slave in Pompeii
Slave girl Bracelet

"Dominus suae ancillae" was the inscription on
one gold bracelet in the form of a snake, which
weighed a pound and had diamonds for eyes.
Mosaic of slaves working

This mosaic depicts two slaves working.
Housing in Pompeii
Houses found in
Pompeii show that
there was obvious
separation of classes
which can be seen
through the
Architecture.

Statues

Satues found in Pompeii and
Herculaneum depict the
different social classes.
Graffiti

Graffiti found on walls in Pompeii and
Herculaneum give us ideas of social
classes: E.G. Politicians, Gladiators, Shop
Owners etc.
Shops

Shops help to give an insight to the
occupations of different classes, for
example A Freeborn may be a Merchant
where a Freedman may be a wealthy
business person or shop owner.
Social venues

The theatre and other social venues had
room and allocated seating for various
different classes. For example, the higher
your class the better your view.
House of the Moralist

The house of the Moralist belonged to a
freedman. Freedmens houses usually
consisted of 8-13 bedrooms and generally
had only one garden.
Shops run by Freedmen

Along the streets of Pompeii and
Herculaneum you would find many shops
that were owned and run by Freedmen.
Rivalled Pompeian Elite
Freedman houses such as the one of the
Vettii Brothers“Imitated the cultural language of the
nobility in order to establish their
membership in that society”

Wallace-Hadrill.