Slave Auctioneer

Slavery was everywhere in the ancient world. Slaves were bought and traded in every town and city, their status the result of wars, kidnap, birth, poverty, or criminality. From fields to the mightiest of temples, slavery was the engine that drove everything. Interestingly, no group, nationality or tribe was considered to be automatically worthy of enslavement. Misfortune could be visited equally on almost anyone. Slaves were rarely used in battle, and so the image of slaves chained to the oars of warships is largely a product of Hollywood cinema history. Rowing required skill, not just a strong back. And only the most desperate of masters would ever give their slaves weapons and permission to kill...