SLAVES IN LUSITANIA: IDENTITY, DEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL RELATIONS

Abstract

An analysis is made of inscriptions from Lusitania naming slaves, which is necessarily limited to persons explicitly identified as servi or the like. A substantially higher proportion of male slaves reflects not only an emphasis on physical labour, but also the possible exposure of female vernae. Although recorded ages suggest that many slaves died young, the evidence does not include those who were manumitted. Finally, the inscriptions provide interesting information about relations between slaves and their parents, owners and partners.