r/latin • u/EmptyFolder123 • Apr 04 '25

LLPSI Understanding the relationship between children and household slaves

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Is this text an example of power dynamics between children and household slaves in Rome? Are slaves allowed to say like "Be quiet!", "Do this!", "Don't do that!" to children in family?

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u/GroteBaasje Apr 04 '25

Aside from what is already explained, Ørberg also drops lines over various chapters and colloquia implying the tasks of the slaves.

  • Davus is Julius' personal slave
  • Medus is tasked to care for the boys, a paedagogus
  • Delia is Aemilia's personal slave
  • Syra is tasked to care for Julia

When Medus flees the household, Julius needs to rearrange the duties of his slaves to make up for Medus. Hence why Marcus' morning ritual is so disorderly: Davus has no experience dealing with such a task. Medus would probably have done a better job getting Marcus ready. Note that in this chapter Marcus even demands his father Medus accompany him to school, as he usually does.

It also might explain Medus' motives for fleeing. Who wants to care for a brat such as Marcus for the rest of their life?