09-22-2007, 07:20 AM
And we have to remember that majority of slaves were neither educated nor necessarily skilled to have status like that.
What I recall, slaves from East (Greeks and others considered "civilized") with skills like reading and writing were very valued.
Barbarians on the other hand, did not usually speak languages like Greek (common language that educated Roman would be expected to speak a little) and rarely had entertainment or educational skills.
Whole word "barbarian" comes from Greek "barbar", word that Greeks invented for people whose language sounded to them like barking.
What I recall, slaves from East (Greeks and others considered "civilized") with skills like reading and writing were very valued.
Barbarians on the other hand, did not usually speak languages like Greek (common language that educated Roman would be expected to speak a little) and rarely had entertainment or educational skills.
Whole word "barbarian" comes from Greek "barbar", word that Greeks invented for people whose language sounded to them like barking.
(Mika S.)
"Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris? Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior." - Catullus -
"Nemo enim fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit."
"Audendo magnus tegitur timor." -Lucanus-
"Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris? Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior." - Catullus -
"Nemo enim fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit."
"Audendo magnus tegitur timor." -Lucanus-
