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Funerary stele of Mnesarete; a young servant (left) is facing
her dead mistress.[1] Attica, circa 380 BC. (Glyptothek, Munich, Germany)
Slavery was common practice and an
integral component of ancient Greece throughout its rich history, as
it was in other societies of the time including ancient Israel and early
Christian societies.[2][3][4] It is
estimated that in Athens, the majority
of citizens owned at least one slave. Most
ancient writers considered slavery not only natural but necessary, but some
isolated debate began to appear, notably in Socratic
dialogues while the Stoics produced the first condemnation of slavery
recorded in history.[4]
In conformity with modern historiographical practice, this article will
discuss only chattel (personal possession) slavery, as
opposed to dependent groups such as the penestae of Thessaly or the Spartan helots,
who were more like medieval serfs (an
enhancement to real estate). The chattel slave is an individual deprived of
liberty and forced to submit to an owner who may buy, sell, or lease him or her
like any other chattel.