“The Roman times”
All the News Romans Need to Know
155 B.C.E
Rome, Italy
Talk with Slave, Caesca Tillius
By; Jennifer Lee
Jennifer; Hello! My name is Jennifer Lee. I am interviewing a Roman who has been
through slavery. Please welcome Caesca Tillius!
Caesca: Hello! Nice to meet you! It’s great to be here!
Jennifer: Hi! So, I heard you have been though slavery. How did it feel like having to
go through that?
Caesca: Well… let me tell you. It’s definitely not something a human being would like
to go through. But it wasn’t just me. A lot of Romans were slaves. But ever since I
was a baby, no one really wanted me so, I was raised up as a slave. My job as a slave
was to serve a family. I was a household slave.
Jennifer: Oh… Do you know what different types of of slaves they are in Rome?
Caesca: There are household slaves, imperial and public slaves, agricultural slaves
and mining slaves, and slaves in urban cities and services. There are many kinds of
slaves…
Jennifer: Hmm… I see… I heard that people get kidnapped and are sold as slaves, is
that true?
Caesca: Yes, that’s true. I have actually once worked with someone who got
kidnapped from her home by pirate. They sold her and they got a lot of money.
Exactly what they needed…
Jennifer: Okay. There a resources that say that some slaves had some sexual contact
with their owners, do you know anything about that?
Caesca: Some owners or masters want to have sex with their slaves. Obviously, since
they’re slaves, they can’t really say “No.” So, if the master said to do “something,”
they would.
Jennifer: Oh! That doesn’t seem like a respectful thing to do…
Caesca: Well… Some owners would actually marry their former slaves if wanted to.
Jennifer: Hmmm… Okay. Is there ways that slaves could do to try to escape slavery?
Caesca: Some have tried to commit suicide to escape from it… But that’s all I really
know.
Jennifer: Is it true that if a slave did something wrong, they will get chained up?
Caesca: Yes. Some are forced to work in chains.
Jennifer: Oh,my goodness. There must have been hatred between you and your
masters… Haven’t you ever rebelled against your master?
Caesca: Yes, I did have feelings of hatred towards my master. Um, around from 140
to 170 B.C.E, there were the three largest slave revolts, trying to fight for
themselves.
Jennifer: Yes, I have heard of that? Well, it was very nicer talking to you and I wish
for the best!
Caesca: Thank you! Nice talking to you!
Slaves chained up