Understanding The Ranks and Classes in Pompeii
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Pompeii was very hierarchial and class-conscious society. However, because class was no longer determined by birth, there was possibility for Pompeian's to move up through the classes.
Who’s Who in Pompeii
You can always tell who is who in Pompeii by the jobs they hold, how they dress, where they live and how many, if any, slaves accompany them through the streets.
Although which class you belonged to was not determined by birth alone, the same families over many generations tended to belong to either upper or lower classes.
Upper Class
The upper classes were made up of senators and equites. The Senatorial class, called nobles, were the politicians and senators. When a man is made senator, his family and ancestors also qualified for noble status. As the senators were not paid and could not work while in office, they had to prove they owned property worth 1million sesterces, ancient Roman currency. Not being allowed to work, they had to be able to support themselves and their families. A small number of families monopolised the noble class for many generations. You can tell who they re by their senatorial tunic with broad stripes.
The wives and daughters of the upper classes carried the status because of the men in the family and were often married off to other noble or equestrian families to ensure they remained in the upper classes.
A man could become a member of the Equestrian class when he could prove he had property worth 400,000 sesterces. They were business men so did the work nobles were forbidden to do. Entry into the Senatorial class was very difficult even for Equestrians. They wore the same tunics as nobles, but with narrow stripes.
The Lower Class
The lower classes were made up of Commons, Latins and Foreigners who were all freeborn Roman citizens. They wore togas. Sometimes simple, other times made of beautiful silks and cottons.
Next down the ladder of the lower classes were Freedpeople who were men and women who had once been slaves but bought or earned their freedom. They could work in business and although many remained poor, some did become wealthy. Their children were of the Commons class and had full freeborn Roman citizen rights. Although they did not have a particular dress, their surnames indicated their class.
At the bottom of Pompeii society, were slaves. They were either born or sold into slavery after being captured during the many many wars the Roman armies fought and won. They often did the same work as free people and may have been craftsmen, shopkeepers or maybe even doctors, teachers, gladiators or farmers.
Who’s Who in Pompeii
You can always tell who is who in Pompeii by the jobs they hold, how they dress, where they live and how many, if any, slaves accompany them through the streets.
Although which class you belonged to was not determined by birth alone, the same families over many generations tended to belong to either upper or lower classes.
Upper Class
The upper classes were made up of senators and equites. The Senatorial class, called nobles, were the politicians and senators. When a man is made senator, his family and ancestors also qualified for noble status. As the senators were not paid and could not work while in office, they had to prove they owned property worth 1million sesterces, ancient Roman currency. Not being allowed to work, they had to be able to support themselves and their families. A small number of families monopolised the noble class for many generations. You can tell who they re by their senatorial tunic with broad stripes.
The wives and daughters of the upper classes carried the status because of the men in the family and were often married off to other noble or equestrian families to ensure they remained in the upper classes.
A man could become a member of the Equestrian class when he could prove he had property worth 400,000 sesterces. They were business men so did the work nobles were forbidden to do. Entry into the Senatorial class was very difficult even for Equestrians. They wore the same tunics as nobles, but with narrow stripes.
The Lower Class
The lower classes were made up of Commons, Latins and Foreigners who were all freeborn Roman citizens. They wore togas. Sometimes simple, other times made of beautiful silks and cottons.
Next down the ladder of the lower classes were Freedpeople who were men and women who had once been slaves but bought or earned their freedom. They could work in business and although many remained poor, some did become wealthy. Their children were of the Commons class and had full freeborn Roman citizen rights. Although they did not have a particular dress, their surnames indicated their class.
At the bottom of Pompeii society, were slaves. They were either born or sold into slavery after being captured during the many many wars the Roman armies fought and won. They often did the same work as free people and may have been craftsmen, shopkeepers or maybe even doctors, teachers, gladiators or farmers.