Roman life‏

I’ve been rather enjoying a book called ‘Invisible Romans’, a guide to the life of the ordinary citizens of ancient Rome. Needless to say, there were a few naughty snippets that appealed, with plenty of potential for reveries or play…

First, sex: perhaps not always a consensual act between equals in those days. “To have intercourse with one’s willing and submissive wife – one not reluctant regarding sex – this is a good thing for both…” according to one ancient text, adding that it is entirely possible she “might only yield ‘with some resistance'”. Certain sexual acts that might be more prevalent in modern times were also deemed ‘unnatural’.

Next, slavery. Domestic slaves “were flogged for trifling mistakes, ignorance, delinquent work, ‘insolent’ behaviour…” , and the lady of the house “was able to discipline female slaves as she thought fit”.

With slaves: “The practical goal of the physical and psychological abuse was submissiveness training. The ideal was to get the slave to obey without question.” There was a “Casual, deeply ‘normal’ assumption… that slaves were available as sexual objects” which meant that “female slaves are forced to service their most shameless masters… The reality of rape must have been very much on… girls’ minds.”

There were foremen amidst the slaves in a household:

“Especially if they were unsupervised by the master, they had no restrictions on the punishments they could inflict, their assignment of slaves for their personal benefit, and their sexual depredations.”

“Routine floggings … took place at the hands of fellow slaves under the master’s direct authority, it was common practice to outsource more serious physical punishment… There were, therefore, professionals who specialised in dealing with slaves that masters considered exceptionally recalcitrant.” I want that job!

As for soldiers : “one’s own female slave was available willy-nilly at any time, and many soldiers had slave girls while on active duty… A soldier might [also] take up a liaison with a [local] girl who would set up house for him and provide him with sexual gratification as well as other household duties; these were called focariae (‘hearth girls’).

Amidst a lengthy chapter on prostitution – noting that it was common to buy then resell slaves at profit for such purposes – comes a tale by Apuleius. “A standard motif in the romances is a girl who is kidnapped by bandits or pirates and sold into slavery. In ‘The Golden Ass’ Charite, a girl from an elite provincial family, faces such a prospect:

“We should take her to a nearby town and sell her. For such a sweet young thing will bring a pretty price, for sure… There she must display herself in a brothel and won’t be able to escape like she almost did just now. Seeing her service men in a whorehouse will be sweet revenge for you.”

Oh, so many scene ideas – enough for weeks of fun. I think I need a villa – and a Roman wife and a few slaves. Volunteers?!