Roman slave pendant.
Here you can buy a replica of a Roman slave pendant that was once attached to a slave's iron collar.
The historical model comes from the so-called
Zoninus necklace from the Museo Nazionalle alle Terme de Diocleziano in Rome, but almost identical slave pendants are also known from other sites. In total, around 45 examples of such pendants have survived
The
inscription on the pendant reads: FUGI TENE ME CVM REVOCV VERIS ME DM ZONINO ACCIPIS SOLIDVM which means:
‘I have run away. Hold me tight! If you bring me back to my master Zoninus, you will receive a solidus.’
The Zoninus collar was made of iron and is considered to be
the best-preserved Roman slave collar. It is the only known complete surviving example with a neck ring and pendant and dates to the 4th century AD.
Link to the original slave necklace...
Through wars and robbery, but also through debt, countless people in the Roman Empire were turned into slaves and sold on
slave markets. Countless Roman slaves had to toil to death in mines for centuries or served as oarsmen on galleys.
Field and especially house slaves fared much better. However, some of these slaves had to wear a neck ring with a pendant on which they were
promised a reward that would bring them back if they escaped. If they tried to escape several times, they might have an F for fugitivus (runaway) branded on their forehead.
The pendant
measures 3.5 x 2.9 cm.
You can buy the bracteate pendant in high-quality
bronze or genuine
silver-plated.
Alternatively, you can also order it in 925
sterling silver (please note delivery time).
Alloy...
The Roman slave pendant comes with a 1 metre long black
leather strap.
The Romans had a number of regulations to
protect slaves; for example, owners were obliged to feed and clothe their slaves and give them a bed. They could be resold, lent and inherited.
The situation of Roman city slaves was generally much better than that of slaves in the countryside, as they often had to work less hard and were even allowed to go to the theatre, baths, the circus or an inn after work with permission. They were sometimes even
paid for their labour or could save up a certain amount of money from tips and even buy their freedom.
In the case of slaves who acted as scribes, tutors or nurses, a friendly relationship sometimes developed that could lead to promotion or even
manumission. Slaves could not officially marry, but could live together with their owner's permission and father children who, born as slaves, also belonged to their master.
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