Which slaves in ancient Rome were most expensive?

Gaul, healthy, literate, able to sing, 800 denarii.

Reads the text on a plaque hanging around the neck of one of the slaves in the slave market in ancient Rome. 2nd century AD.

Ancient Roman slave market. Modern illustration.

This sign is extremely typical. The seller has briefly listed the most important advantages of his goods. Consider them one by one.

The slave Iryna was given to Titus Pullon for free, as his prisoner. A still from the series “Rome.

In no small measure, the value of a slave was determined by his origins. Greeks, Egyptians, and other civilized nations were valued most highly by the Romans. The lowest value was placed on savages from Germany or Britain, who were considered daring and prone to rebellion, escape, and other crimes, and thus were reluctantly purchased. In this case the slave was a Gaul, i.e., a barbarian, but a Romanized one.

An ancient Roman doctor examining a patient. A modern illustration.

In second place was health. Cato the Elder, in his household manuals, recommended getting rid of “old oxen, sick cattle, sick sheep, old carts, scrap, old slaves, sick slaves, and everything that is not needed. Sick slaves worked poorly and…