Pilate\'s Household & Etiquette Question

[Ahavah]

I'm looking for good links that could tell me a bit about how Pilate's household would be set up. I can find tons of info on his role in the crucifixion, but nothing that actually explains daily life. I'm looking for links especially, as I am an unemployed new mommy and can't afford books. :roll:

Also, I'm stuck on how he would be addressed by his soldiers and by the High Priests. As in, when speaking to him, would it be like, "Yes, Sir/My lord/Your Grace/etc."? Or about him, "[Pilate] wants to see us." If anyone could help me with this, I'd be eternally grateful.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Carlton Bach]

I don't know if I can help you with links, but Roman Reenactment groups in general might be a good starting point. As to books, both Alexander Demandt (Hände in Unschuld) and Karl Jaros (In Sachen Pontius Pilatus) have published on Pilate recently and are worth reading. There is also a book by Helen Bond (Pontius Pilate in history and interpretation) that I haven't read and can*t speak on.

As to how his household would have been organised, most likely he was on his own as regards family (Pilate's wife is mentionen in legend, but I wouldn't have taken her to Judaea in his place, let alone to Jerusalem. But a man in his position would have a personal secretary - a freedman most likely - several personal slaves (possibly including an accountant, a cook, a barber, a stablehand, or other specialists, but also a few general duty household servants). The Augustan period may be too early, but at a later date equestrian functionaries had soldiers seconded to their staff for administrative purposes, as messengers, scribes and archivists. Administrators also brought along 'friends', a good way for others of their class to see administrative work in action. Locals with family or personal ties probably also accompanied him at times.
Pilate's household would alternate between high pressure work when he entertains and marking time when he eats out. Romans of the upper class regularly visited each other for dinner, and as a provincial governor he would have been a coveted guest. It would also have been at a reduced state in Jerusalem, given he normally resided in Caesarea. Roman officials generally didn't have an 'at the office' as we understand it, so many of the things going on in his home would pertain to his official duties.

As to what he'd be called - traditionally, Romans called each other by their forename, hence Pontie by his peers. However, much as the upper classes affected Republican virtues, there is evidence that deferential forms of address came into common use much earlier in the provinces, and among the lower classes. His subjects would most likely address him as 'Kyrie' - Lord, and his slaves as 'Domine' - ditto. As to his soldiers, I'm not sure at this point. I know 'Domine' was used in the 2nd century, though.

[Tarbicus]

Also, I'm stuck on how he would be addressed by his soldiers and by the High Priests.

In addition to what Carlton said, you could try perusing through the Vindolanda Tablets online, which have good indications of how people addressed each other in those times, as well as get a feeling for some aspects of day to day to life. Although centred on the military they may be of use:
[url:3gufsu73]http://vindolanda.csad.ox.ac.uk/[/url]

For other daily aspects of Roman life there are these:
[url:3gufsu73]http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Romelife.html[/url]
[url:3gufsu73]http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/romnlife/index.htm[/url]
[url:3gufsu73]http://www.forumromanum.org/life/johnston.html[/url]

[Ahavah]

Thank you so much! I will look into these, and try to find the books when I am able. If anyone else has any resources, by all means, please keep them coming. I appreciate your help!

[Marius_Ursus]

As to what he'd be called - traditionally, Romans called each other by their forename, hence Pontie by his peers. However, much as the upper classes affected Republican virtues, there is evidence that deferential forms of address came into common use much earlier in the provinces, and among the lower classes. His subjects would most likely address him as 'Kyrie' - Lord, and his slaves as 'Domine' - ditto. As to his soldiers, I'm not sure at this point. I know 'Domine' was used in the 2nd century, though.

Why wouldn't his peers call him "Pontius" and his slaves, "Dominus"?

[Crispvs]

"Why wouldn't his peers call him "Pontius" and his slaves, "Dominus"?"

Case endings in Latin grammar.

For example:
(that is) Pontius - Pont-ee-oos

(the brother of) Pontii - Pont-ee-ee

(good morning) Pontie - Pont-ee-ay

Of course, just to quibble a little bit, 'Pontius' is actually a family name rather than a praenomen. Off the top of my head I can't think what Pontius Pilate's first name actually was.


Crispvs

[Marius_Ursus]

"Why wouldn't his peers call him "Pontius" and his slaves, "Dominus"?"

Case endings in Latin grammar.

For example:
(that is) Pontius - Pont-ee-oos

(the brother of) Pontii - Pont-ee-ee

(good morning) Pontie - Pont-ee-ay

Of course, just to quibble a little bit, 'Pontius' is actually a family name rather than a praenomen. Off the top of my head I can't think what Pontius Pilate's first name actually was.


Crispvs

Thank you. I appreciate that info.

So, Domine would be a polite greeting when addressing a DOMINVS?

[Praefectusclassis]

I'm not sure Pilate's first name is even known. As far as I know, outside of the Bible, information on him is limited in the extreme. I have found one inscription mentioning him:
AE 1963, 00104 = AE 1964, 00039 = AE 1964, 00187 = AE 1971, 00477 = AE 1981, 00850 = AE 1991, 01578 = AE 1997, 00166 = GLICMar 00043 = AE 1999, 01681 (unsurprisingly, an inscription mentioning him is much discussed :wink: )
Provinz: Palaestina Ort: Caesarea
[3]s Tiberieum / [3 Po]ntius Pilatus / [praef]ectus Iudae[a]e / [ref]e[cit]


And as you can see, if there was a first name or even first letter mentioned, it got lost in the meantime.

[Duncan Head]

There are a couple of websites out there that claim his first name was Publius, and some that say Lucius. I can't see any reference, so far, to a source for either belief.