Nice apologia of Greek slavery. The ancient Greeks were such enlightened people they must have been really kind masters.
Wealty students in the Greek academies who brought a slave with them to their classes were just trying to offer their slaves some education, right? Its not they wanted someone to carry their stuff for them.
"domestic slaves were ritually welcomed" LOL Sure.
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Because female slaves were literally owned by their employers, how well slaves were treated depended upon their status in the household and the temperament of their owners. As a result of her vulnerable position within the household, a female slave was often subjected to sexual exploitation and physical abuse. Any children born of master-servant liaisons were disposed of because female slaves were prohibited from rearing children.
As Xenophon's Oceonomicus reveals, slaves were even prohibited from marrying, as marriage was deemed the social privilege of the elite citizens of Athens.
crystalinks.com
It is difficult to appreciate the condition of Greek slaves. According to pseudo-Aristotle, the daily routine of slaves could be summed up in three words: "work, discipline, and feeding".[134] Xenophon's advice is to treat slaves as domestic animals, that is to say punish disobedience and reward good behaviour.[135] For his part, Aristotle prefers to see slaves treated as children and to use not only orders but also recommendations, as the slave is capable of understanding reasons when they are explained.[136]
Greek literature abounds with scenes of slaves being flogged; it was a means of forcing them to work, as were control of rations, clothing, and rest.
en.wikipedia.org |
