The History of Slavery in Athens

Ancient writers consider that Attic slaves enjoyed a peculiarly happy lot, compared to elsewhere in the Greek world. Slaves were buried within the family plots of their oikis, beside their masters and mistresses. If a slave was required to be at witness in a lawsuit, his or her testimony was only considered admissible when tortured. A misdemeanor that would result in a fine for a free man, would result in flogging for the slave,. The ratio seems to have been one lash for one drachma.