Mercatoriam Mancipium

**Mercatoriam Mancipium** was the term for a merchant who dealt in the Roman slave trade.

## Description

Traders would hold public auctions or make slaves available for viewing and sale, keeping them secure in pens or cells, and even chaining slaves he had reason to be wary of, namely prisoners of war or fugitive slaves. He may have also employed his own body slave as an overseer.

1. If the slave had defects not shown in his or her guarantee, the dealer had to take the slave back in six months or make good the buyer's loss.

### Notes

* The rich men who invested in slaves had a high social standing but the actual Roman slave traders, the Venalitti,  were viewed with some distrust, even likened to pimps.
* As their integrity and honesty was often questioned the traders at the auctions had to guarantee that the slaves they were selling were sound and that any faults were pointed out.
* Slaves were therefore commonly exposed for sale naked. The traders were under the supervision of the Aediles who ensured that their wares were sold publicly and fairly.
* Slaves of great beauty and rarity were not exhibited to public gaze in the common slave market, but were shown to purchasers in private (arcana tabulata catastae). If the slave had defects not shown in his guarantee, the dealer had to take him back in six months or make good the buyer's loss.
* The Slave traders would prepare their 'goods' for the slave auction in Rome. The potential price for every slave would be assessed prior to the start of the auction. Often the slaves would come from different nationalities so there would be a language problem. Imported Slaves from Roman provinces were put on display with one foot whitened with chalk as Roman law demanded that dealers disclosed the ethnic origin (natio) of the slaves they were selling. Discipline was tightly enforced. Slaves were held in wooden pens or iron cages. The lash of the whip was threatened, and applied, to keep the slaves in order.
* Roman law demanded that slave dealers disclosed the ethnic origin (natio) of the slaves they were selling and to make clear if there were any defects. The bodies of the slaves were fully inspected and their teeth were examined.
* Plaques or placards (tituli) were prepared to hang from the necks of the slaves for sale detailing their nationality, origin, abilities, their good and their bad points. The traders decided in which order the slaves would be shown at auction. The Aediles would decide where and when the auction would take place.
* The slave auction would display groups of slaves to be sold. The auction was conducted the same way as other goods and wares. The traders would emphasize the features and benefits and any unique selling points at the auction. Every one might see and handle them, even if they did not wish to purchase them.
* Slaves were displayed to their best advantage on platforms or revolving stands  \*\*\*
* Some were stripped naked so the buyers could see exactly what they were purchasing \*\*\*
* Potential buyers could demand that slaves who were clothed were stripped in order that a closer inspection of the 'good's could be made \*\*\*
* Those brought from abroad were put on display with one foot whitened with chalk \*\*\*
* Each slave had a placard (tituli) around his neck describing his details \*\*\*
* If a dealer was unable to offer any guarantees about the slave's abilities or attitude then the slave was made to wear a special cap called a pillei on his head \*\*\*
* The body of the slave was discussed and inspected at the request of the buyer
* A buyer could examine which part of the body he wanted
* The auction would commence and the slave was sold to the highest bidder
* The prices paid a slave auction varied considerably according to the age, skills and qualities of the slave who was being auctioned. Slaves with valued skills or education were priced about 12 times more than slaves without skills. Female slaves, unless possessed of personal attractions, were generally cheaper than male. Romans liked novelty, so deformed slaves, such as dwarfs, or the mentally handicapped brought good prices.