08-09-2010, 07:37 AM
I came across something curious over the weekend:
Was there posthumous freeing of slaves? If so, why?
I suppose that this could be a way of honouring the deceased, as is hinted in the text, but I can't really think of any other reason to do so. If the posthumously-freed man had children, would they become free citizens?
I also guess that the ex-slave’s assets are still counted as owned by the lady Scissa, since Trimalcho says she will have to pay the taxes.
Quote: Scissa was giving a very elegant novendial in memory of her poor old slave, whom she had enfranchised after his death. And I suppose she will have a good round sum to pay to the tax-collectors, for they do tell me the dead man's fortune came to fifty thousand.
Petronius, The Satyricon, 10., emphasis mine
Was there posthumous freeing of slaves? If so, why?
I suppose that this could be a way of honouring the deceased, as is hinted in the text, but I can't really think of any other reason to do so. If the posthumously-freed man had children, would they become free citizens?
I also guess that the ex-slave’s assets are still counted as owned by the lady Scissa, since Trimalcho says she will have to pay the taxes.
David J. Cord
www.davidcord.com
www.davidcord.com
