Comparative Studies about the Life of a Private Slave and that of a Public Slave in Babylonia from the 7th to the 5th Centuries BCE

Abstract

In this paper, we compare the life of a private slave and that of a public slave (temple slave) in Babylonia from the 7th century to the 5th century. During this period, many common reasons led to people’s private and public enslavement. These reasons included debt, famine, being a prisoner of war, and descending from slavery. Private and public slaves were subjected to various economic activities determined by their owners and the institution(temple). However, the way of life and the rules that applied to these two types of slaves were quite different. The life of a private slave could change quickly and often according to their owner's will, while the temple laws or rules regulated the life of a temple slave. Even though temple slaves had to follow the temple’s rules, slaves preferred to be temple slaves rather than privately owned. Temple slaves could not be sold, which allowed them to live with their families during their lifetime. Temple slaves’ lives were also determined by rules, not by an owner’s unpredictable emotions.