#318 | A Job From Hell | Slaves in Ancient Rome
English Learning for Curious Minds
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The Life of a Slave in the Roman Empire
There were many different roles within Roman society, and a slave's life would vary greatly depending on which role they were given. One such category was slaves who were put to work as manual laborers. Agricultural or farming slaves made up half of all Roman slaves. They were often subject to horrific treatment from their masters, being whipped, overworked, and starved. Here, conditions were so bad that the life expectancy of a slave was just a few months. Another example is of an actor who was playing the mythological figure, Orpheus, and as in the myth, the actor was torn apart by wild animals.
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