Credit: Courtesy of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii/Cover Images/Cover Images
The horrors of Roman slavery have been revealed by new excavations in Pompeii. Archaeologists have been studying a bakery-prison where enslaved workers and donkeys were ruthlessly exploited to produce bread. The cramped confines of the bakery reveal a grim reality—a windowless space with small openings high in the walls, adorned with iron bars to allow minimal light. Notably, the floor bears indentations meticulously carved to coordinate the movement of donkeys, compelled to walk blindly for hours. Director Gabriel Zuchtriegel, who has co-authored a study on the excavations, says: . "It is, in other words, a space in which we have to imagine the presence of people of servile status whose freedom of movement the owner felt the need to restrict. “It is the most shocking side of ancient slavery, the one devoid of both trusting relationships and promises of manumission, where we were reduced to brute violence, an impression that is entirely confirmed by the securing of the few windows with iron bars." Unearthed during the broader effort to secure and consolidate slopes on the edges of Pompeii's unexcavated areas, the recent findings expose a house undergoing renovation. The structure, typical of Pompeii, is divided into a lavishly decorated residential area with Fourth Style frescoes and a productive quarter, housing the bakery. Disturbingly, in one of the bakery rooms, the remains of three individuals were discovered, affirming that the property, despite renovations, was far from uninhabited. These revelations provide a tangible connection to the toil documented by the second-century writer Apuleius, who, in Metamorphoses IX 11-13, recounted the grueling labour of men, women, and animals in ancient mills and bakeries. The excavations confirm Apuleius's account, offering insights into the practical workings of the premises during a period when it was not operational. The production area, lacking doors and direct communication with the outside world, provides a stark representation of ancient slavery marked by violence and restrictions on movement. The presence of iron-barred windows underscores the harsh conditions endured by individuals of servile status. The millstones, positioned in the central room's southern part, are surrounded by semicircular indentations in volcanic basalt paving slabs. These intentional carvings, resembling footprints, are likely designed to prevent draught animals from slipping while forming a circular furrow, aligning with Apuleius's descriptions. "Iconographic and literary sources, particularly the reliefs from the tomb of Eurysaces in Rome, suggest that a millstone was usually moved by a couple consisting of a donkey and a slave,” says Zuchtriegel. “The latter, in addition to pushing the grindstone, had the task of inciting the animal and monitoring the grinding process, adding grain, and collecting the flour." The wear patterns on these indentations reveal the repetitive cycles, akin to clockwork gears, synchronizing the movement around the tightly packed millstones. This resurfaced space, with its poignant evidence of daily hardship, complements the narrative presented in the upcoming exhibition "The Other Pompeii: Ordinary Lives in the Shadow of Vesuvius," dedicated to the often overlooked individuals such as slaves, who constituted the majority of the population and significantly contributed to Roman civilisation's economy, culture, and social fabric.
The horrors of Roman slavery have been revealed by new excavations in Pompeii. Archaeologists have been studying a bakery-prison where enslaved workers and donkeys were ruthlessly exploited to produce bread. The cramped confines of the bakery reveal a grim reality—a windowless space with small openings high in the walls, adorned with iron bars to allow minimal light. Notably, the floor bears indentations meticulously carved to coordinate the movement of donkeys, compelled to walk blindly for hours. Director Gabriel Zuchtriegel, who has co-authored a study on the excavations, says: . "It is, in other words, a space in which we have to imagine the presence of people of servile status whose freedom of movement the owner felt the need to restrict. “It is the most shocking side of ancient slavery, the one devoid of both trusting relationships and promises of manumission, where we were reduced to brute violence, an impression that is entirely confirmed by the securing of the few windows with iron bars." Unearthed during the broader effort to secure and consolidate slopes on the edges of Pompeii's unexcavated areas, the recent findings expose a house undergoing renovation. The structure, typical of Pompeii, is divided into a lavishly decorated residential area with Fourth Style frescoes and a productive quarter, housing the bakery. Disturbingly, in one of the bakery rooms, the remains of three individuals were discovered, affirming that the property, despite renovations, was far from uninhabited. These revelations provide a tangible connection to the toil documented by the second-century writer Apuleius, who, in Metamorphoses IX 11-13, recounted the grueling labour of men, women, and animals in ancient mills and bakeries. The excavations confirm Apuleius's account, offering insights into the practical workings of the premises during a period when it was not operational. The production area, lacking doors and direct communication with the outside world, provides a stark representation of ancient slavery marked by violence and restrictions on movement. The presence of iron-barred windows underscores the harsh conditions endured by individuals of servile status. The millstones, positioned in the central room's southern part, are surrounded by semicircular indentations in volcanic basalt paving slabs. These intentional carvings, resembling footprints, are likely designed to prevent draught animals from slipping while forming a circular furrow, aligning with Apuleius's descriptions. "Iconographic and literary sources, particularly the reliefs from the tomb of Eurysaces in Rome, suggest that a millstone was usually moved by a couple consisting of a donkey and a slave,” says Zuchtriegel. “The latter, in addition to pushing the grindstone, had the task of inciting the animal and monitoring the grinding process, adding grain, and collecting the flour." The wear patterns on these indentations reveal the repetitive cycles, akin to clockwork gears, synchronizing the movement around the tightly packed millstones. This resurfaced space, with its poignant evidence of daily hardship, complements the narrative presented in the upcoming exhibition "The Other Pompeii: Ordinary Lives in the Shadow of Vesuvius," dedicated to the often overlooked individuals such as slaves, who constituted the majority of the population and significantly contributed to Roman civilisation's economy, culture, and social fabric.
Category
😹
Fun