What happened to children born to slaves in Rome?

 In ancient Rome, the fate of children born to slaves varied significantly based on their circumstances. Let’s delve into the lives of these young individuals:

1. Slave Children:

   • Children born to slave mothers were automatically considered slaves themselves. Their status was tied to that of their mothers.
   • These children would grow up within the confines of their owners’ households, often working from a very early age.
   • Their lives were marked by hard labor, limited prospects, and dependence on the goodwill of their masters.
   • Survival and any hope for a better life rested primarily on their intelligence and the kindness of their owners.

2. Lower-Class Roman Children:

   • Beyond slave children, there were other lower-class children in Rome:
     • Abandoned children: Those left to fend for themselves.
     • Poor freeborn: Children from impoverished families.
     • Delicia: A term for children who were cherished or pampered.
   • These children had a chance at a reasonable life if they were somehow included within a domus (a household). Domus included not only freeborn individuals but also freedmen, freedwomen, and their descendants.
   • Belonging to a domus provided a sense of stability and safety. Even the most humble children might have felt their lives were good as long as they belonged somewhere.

3. A Real Example:

   • In 139 CE, a girl named Passia was sold as a slave in Thrace. The contract referred to her as “sportellaria”, which some scholars speculate might mean she was a foundling.
   • Passia’s fate depended on her owner, Maximus. If treated well, she would work hard but receive food and clothing. Perhaps she would survive to adulthood, form a contubernium (common-law marriage) with a male slave, and even bear children who would add to her owners’ property.

4. The Harsh Reality:

   • The lives of these lower-class children were often sad and brutal. Their future hinged on factors beyond their control.
   • While some might find a semblance of stability within a domus, others faced hardship and uncertainty.

In summary, the fate of children born to slaves in Rome was deeply intertwined with their social status, the whims of their owners, and the harsh realities of their time¹²³⁴. 🏛️👶🔗