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The woman who forms the focus of this work is enslaved and is being placed for sale at public auction upon a castata or platform. Treated as an object for sale, her clothing lies at her feet so that she can be inspected by the bidders. Her humiliation from this dehumanization is palpable.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.Text 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"6393c71c-ed35-4482-b815-5312632c5c1b"}],"header":"A enslaved woman"},{"position":{"x":34,"y":34.8046875},"alwaysFullscreen":true,"content":[{"params":{"text":"

The auctioneer and his assistants wear brightly-coloured togas over their tunics, although probably more colourful than what the ancient Romans really wore. The assistant on the right holds a stylus (a pen) thoughtfully up to his mouth, while the other appears to writing \u2013 probably in an accounts ledger or a sales contract.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.Text 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"05214856-6c6f-4d75-8336-51d96ec6fc40"}],"header":"The auctioneer and assistants"},{"position":{"x":55.2,"y":88.291015625},"alwaysFullscreen":true,"content":[{"params":{"text":"

The body of bidders consists of men. Notice how G\u00e9r\u00f4me has placed us among them, so that we are given the perspective of those bidding on a living being. This heightens our sense of participation and, like it or not, makes us feel like accomplices in the humiliation and sale of this enslaved woman.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.Text 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"3af9a5fa-95da-4897-81b1-f4bf55aa62b0"}],"header":"The bidders"},{"position":{"x":84.8,"y":38.96484375},"alwaysFullscreen":true,"content":[{"params":{"text":"

To the right, other enslaved women and children await their turn for sale. Crouched on the ground is a young woman \u2013 hardly more than a girl \u2013 trying to conceal herself from view and eyeing the proceedings apprehensively. To the right are two younger children, one fatigued and the other anxious; G\u00e9r\u00f4me has only just obscured their nakedness in order to highlight their vulnerability. A fully clothed elderly woman, on the other hand, holds a limp infant who (one hopes) is sleeping through this ordeal.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.Text 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"5424715e-14a3-480c-b8f8-cec63cf387b6"}],"header":"Other women and child slaves"},{"position":{"x":4,"y":40.576171875},"alwaysFullscreen":true,"content":[{"params":{"text":"

A group of male slaves is visible to the left. Some of them at least are wearing only loincloths to display the fitness of their bodies. The one on the left wears a titulus or label around his neck that advertises his attributes.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.Text 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"daa2a297-5db4-4762-baa8-90dae2cdeec8"}],"header":"Male slaves"}],"closeButtonLabel":"Close","image":{"path":"images\/image-610d8f438e2fc.png","mime":"image\/png","copyright":{"license":"U"},"width":1437,"height":1811},"backgroundImageAltText":"A slave market is depicted with the auction happening on a raised platform under a semi-domed apse made of brick. An unclothed woman stands in the centre with her garment at her feet, shielding her eyes with one hand while an auctioneer in a yellow toga g","globalIconType":"icon","globalIcon":"info","globalColor":"#eedef6"}

Jean-Léon Gérôme’s Slave Market in Ancient Rome (1884)

Brief Introduction