Archaeologists at the Pompeii archaeological park in southern Italy have uncovered what is being described as the “most shocking example of Roman slavery” within the ruins of the ancient city. The discovery, a cramped bakery with barred windows, is believed to be a site where enslaved individuals were imprisoned and exploited to produce bread, shedding light on the harsh realities of daily life for Pompeii’s enslaved population.
The bakery, found during excavations in the Regio IX area, was part of a larger home undergoing renovations at the time of Mount Vesuvius’s catastrophic eruption in AD79. Despite the destruction, the remains of three victims were discovered in one of the bakery’s rooms, indicating that the premises were still inhabited during the eruption.
The bakery, featuring small windows secured with iron bars, was strategically separated from the outside world, with its sole exit leading to the main hall of the residence. Markings on the bakery’s floor suggested a system to coordinate the movements of enslaved workers and blindfolded animals. The enslaved individuals were likely compelled to grind the grain needed for bread production, highlighting the grim conditions they endured.
Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of Pompeii archaeological park, expressed the significance of the discovery, stating, “It is the most shocking side of ancient slavery, the one devoid of both trusting relationships and promises of manumission, where we were reduced to brute violence, an impression that is entirely confirmed by the securing of the few windows with iron bars.”
This revelation adds crucial insights into the daily lives of Pompeii’s enslaved population, a group often overlooked in historical records despite constituting the majority of the city’s inhabitants. Their labor not only sustained the local economy but also played a vital role in shaping the culture and fabric of Roman civilization.
The discovery follows previous findings related to Roman slavery at Pompeii, including a room inhabited by enslaved people in Civita Giuliana in 2021 and the partly mummified remains of a former enslaved person at the necropolis of Porta Sarno in the same year.
An upcoming exhibition at the archaeological park, scheduled to begin on December 15, will be dedicated to the enslaved people of Pompeii, further emphasizing the importance of understanding this aspect of ancient history. The exhibition aims to provide a comprehensive view of the lives and struggles of those who were often silenced in historical narratives.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
