social structure Flashcards
(17 cards)
skulls at herculaneum
studied by bisel, confirmed a wide genetic inheritance
bodies show
evidence of a low birth rate, relatively healthy population, past injuries that were treated
herculaneum dental health
was good, possibly due to the high consumption of fluorine from seafood and low refined sugars
pompeii dental dealth
high rate of dental problems, such as gum disease, cavities, etc may be due diet of bread with small fragments from lava stone mills
high lead levels
high enough for lead poisoning, possibly from use of lead in plates, drinking cups, pots, pipes, paint and medical/beauty remedies
amphitheatre seating
reflect social structure, with specialised seats for the elite at the front
wax tablets of herculaneum
Poppaea Note, a feed woman of Priscus who had slaves of her own and an inscription of Naevoleia Tyche, a well-off freedwomen of Lucius who had freedmen and women of her own
epitaphs reveal
patrons often paid for deserving freedmen and freedwomen
“For a deserving freedman his patron erected this monument.t In his life he spoke ill of no man. He did nothing against the will of his patron. There was always a great quantity of gold and silver in his charge”,
epitaph on a freedman’s grave from his former master, relating to how freedmen could become successful, patron-client relationship
villa of agrippa postumus
stocks and prison cells show that slaves tended to be treated harsher on estates
remains of a couple sheltering together
in a building during the eruption, woman had a bracelet inscribed “from the master to his slave girl”, suggesting former slaves were kept as lovers
evidence of where slaves slept
minimal, showing their marginal place in society
buildings of eumachia and mamia
show women could still be wealthy and prominent despite being unable to vote
statue of eumachia
placed in her building, from the fullers in response to her generosity, symbolic of her power and social status
mamia’s gravesite
mamia was granted a gravesite for her impressive tomb near the herculaneum gate from the town council, reflecting her status in society
“Mamia, a daughter of Publius, a public priestess [built this] to the genius [of the colony and Augustus] on her own land at [her own] expense”
inscription that shows how women could achieve status, and relates to imperial worship
“I beg you to make Ceius Secundus duumvir. Sutoria Primigenia with her family asks”,
One elite woman, Taedia Secunda, declared her support for her grandson L Popidius Secundus for aedile in 79 AD, evidence of women writing electoral graffiti
