This paper sets out to provide an overview of the literary, epigraphic and iconographic evidence for the external appearance of the serui publici. In the Roman world public slaves were employed for a variety of lowly, but fundamental, administrative tasks and civic activities both in Rome and in the other cities of the Empire. However, they are one of the most underrepresented groups in Roman society, especially in the iconographic evidence. This paper aims to reconsider the textual sources on the clothing and outward appearance of public slaves, and finally to propose an identification of members of this social group in some visual depictions.
Notes on the External Appearance of Roman Public Slaves
LUCIANI, FRANCO
2019
Abstract
This paper sets out to provide an overview of the literary, epigraphic and iconographic evidence for the external appearance of the serui publici. In the Roman world public slaves were employed for a variety of lowly, but fundamental, administrative tasks and civic activities both in Rome and in the other cities of the Empire. However, they are one of the most underrepresented groups in Roman society, especially in the iconographic evidence. This paper aims to reconsider the textual sources on the clothing and outward appearance of public slaves, and finally to propose an identification of members of this social group in some visual depictions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
