Freedmen and freedwomen — slaves who had been freed by their masters — were a distinctive feature of Roman society, and became increasingly prominent from the Augustan period onwards, until Caracalla granted universal citizenship to the inhabitants of the Empire in ad 212. Such individuals were particularly keen to celebrate their achievement in becoming Roman citizens. They could do this through the medium of their tomb and its inscription, and consequently are perhaps over-represented in the funerary record. After their release, ex-slaves became clients of their patron and retained close connections with their original household. They might still live in the same house, and might be buried in the household’s tomb at their death (G27—28, G40—41). Some freedmen and freedwomen promoted their patron’s commercial interests (D109, H21, H23, H26—29, H69).
Some of their epitaphs provide intriguing glimpses of the success with which they and their families were integrated into Roman citizen society after their manumission. We can see how two slaves of the same master could marry after having received their freedom (slaves could not formally marry) (G30—33). Once freed, ex-slaves could possess slaves and build up a network of freedmen and freedwomen for themselves (see G38—47). It was also the case that children born to a freedman after his manumission were full Roman citizens (G32).
Freedmen were excluded from reaching the ranks of the governing class, but could achieve positions of importance and act as benefactors of the community at a lower level, in certain religious cults (E28—31, E34—37, E62—64, G33) and as Augustales (G48) or officials in their country district (F96—99). Imperial freedmen and freedwomen — slaves freed by the emperor or by a member of the imperial family — were regarded as being of higher status than normal ex-slaves (G34—35; compare F97).
Integration of a freedwoman into an elite household (G27—29)
G27 is on a marble plaque in the centre of the tomb’s facade (Tomb F, north: Nucerian Gate necropolis). G28—29 are on marble herms inside the tomb enclosure, marking actual burials.
G27 AE (1990) 179a
To Gaius Veranius Rufus, son of Quintus, duumvir; Verania Clara, freedwoman of Quintus, to her excellent patron, for herself and her household.
G28 AE (1990) 179b Verania Clara, freedwoman of Quintus.
G29 AE (1990) 179c
Gaius Veranius Rufus, son of Quintus, aedile.
Marriage of ex-slaves (G30—31)
G30 is on a limestone plaque on the facade of Tomb D north, Nucerian Gate necropolis; G31 is on a marble tablet on the facade of another in the same necropolis. See also G32 and G33.
G30 AE (1990) 177a
Caecilia Agathia, freedwoman of Lucius, in her lifetime constructed (this) for herself and for Lucius Caecilius Dioscurides, freedman of Lucius, her husband.
World History
