The historical precursor is the so-called Zoninus necklace from the collections of the Museo Nazionale alle Terme di Diocleziano in Rome, but almost identical slave pendants are known from other sites. In total, approximately 45 examples of these pendants have survived.
The inscription on the pendant reads:
FUGI TENE ME CVM REVOCV VERIS ME DM ZONINO ACCIPIS SOLIDVM,
which means:
"I have escaped. Hold me! If you return me to my master Zonino, you will receive solidus."
The Zoninus necklace was made of iron and is considered the best preserved Roman slave pendant. It is the only known complete surviving example with a neck ring and pendant and dates from the 4th century AD.
As a result of wars and robberies, but also due to debts, countless people were enslaved and sold on slave markets in the Roman Empire. For centuries, countless Roman slaves died of exhaustion in the mines or served as rowers in the galleys.
Field and especially domestic slaves were significantly better off. Still, some of them had to wear a neck collar with a pendant on which was a reward for whoever apprehended and returned them in the event of escape. If a slave tried to escape repeatedly, an F (fugitive) could be burned on his forehead.
The Romans had a number of regulations to protect slaves; for example, owners were obliged to feed, clothe and bed their slaves. Slaves could be sold, lent and inherited.
The status of urban slaves was generally much better than that of rural slaves, as they often performed less strenuous work and were allowed to visit the theatre, baths, circus or inn after work with permission. Sometimes they were even paid for their work or allowed to set aside a certain amount of their tips to buy their freedom.
Slaves working as scribes, teachers or nannies sometimes developed a friendly relationship that could lead to promotion or even release (manumission). Slaves could not officially marry, but with the consent of the owner they could live as a couple and have children, but these were born as slaves and belonged to their master.
- The pendant measures 3,5 × 2,9 cm.
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