business of the mistress to see that all these creatures are kept
busy and reasonably contented. If a slave is reconciled to his
lot, honest, cheerful, industrious, his condition is not miserable.
Athenian slaves are allowed a surprising amount of liberty, so
most visitors to the city complain. A slave may be flogged most
cruelly, but he cannot be put to death at the mere whim of his
master. He cannot enter the gymnasium, or the public assembly; but
he can visit the temples. As a humble member of the family he has
a small part usually in the family sacrifices. But in any case he is
subject to one grievous hardship: when his testimony is required
in court he must be "put to the question" by torture. On the
other hand, if his master has wronged him intolerably, he can take
sanctuary at the Temple of Theseus, and claim the privilege of being
sold to some new owner. A slave, too, has still another grievance
which may be no less galling because it is sentimental. His name
(given him arbitrarily perhaps by his master) is of a peculiar
category, which at once brands him as a bondsman: Geta, Manes,
Dromon, Sosias, Xanthias, Pyrrhias,--such names would be repudiated
as an insult by a citizen.

[*]Who, however, could not be trusted to cook a formal dinner. For
such purpose an expert must be hired.


42. Cruel and Kind Masters.--Slavery in Athens, as everywhere
else, is largely dependent upon the character of the master; and
most Athenian masters would not regard crude brutality as consistent
with that love of elegance, harmony, and genteel deliberation
which characterizes a well-born citizen. There do not lack masters
who have the whip continually in their hands, who add to the raw