Читать книгу Greek and Roman Slaveries - Eftychia Bathrellou - Страница 53

In the Roman world, while slaves were referred to by their own names, accompanied by their master’s name in the genitive, freedmen and freedwomen tended to use a name with three or two parts respectively, following the practice of Roman citizens. For the first elements, freedmen usually adopted their patron’s praenomen and nomen, while freedwomen their patron’s nomen; as their name’s last element, freed persons kept the name by which they were known when they were slaves. Cf. 12.29. The names Agapete, Agapetus, Elpis, Philete, and Bostrychus are Greek and are often borne by Roman slaves and freedmen.

Literature: Bruun 2013.

To the divine spirits: For Gnaeus Arrius Agapetus.

Arria Agapete, his mother, and Bostrychus, his father, and Elpis, his mamma,³⁰ and Philete (?), his nurse, set this up for a most dutiful son, who well deserved it. He lived three years and 45 days.

 Who is the deceased? Can we establish his status?

 Who are the dedicators? Can we establish their status? How are they related to Agapetus?

 What can we learn about Roman slaves and freedpersons from this passage?