Slavery in Early Byzantine Times

Tedius Afer is Gaius Galen’s Greek slave and protector throughout Gaius’ life, particularly helping him manage his mania. Tedius and Gaius have also grown to be close friends. Though Tedius and other slaves wish Christianity would condemn slavery, they understand their status as being God’s will. Slaves were of any race, often captured in battle or inhabitants of conquered towns. A slave’s child would be a slave. Slaves fulfilled labor and servant duties, as well as acting as skilled stewards in business and finance. Masters could free their slaves, as Tedius hopes Gaius Galen will do for him in the annual Founder’s Day ceremony of freeing slaves.

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Like his father Hesiod who is the business steward for Gaius Galen’s father, Tedius is the younger Gaius’ manservant, accountant, administrator and overall secretary handling the facets of his master’s life, including work responsibilities. The friendship Gaius and Tedius share is not a normal aspect of slavery in these times. But it is also not unusual for two men of the same age, ethnicity and interest to grow up together and form bonds beyond slave/master. Gaius depends on Tedius for much throughout his life and has grown to appreciate and respect Tedius as a person, friend and trusted source of advice and guidance.

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Following is an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Gaius Galen and his slave Tedius…

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Occasionally I wonder about Tedius Afer standing at the foot of my bed, as he is now, but holding a bloody knife or my own pillow he has just murdered me with in my sleep. Every master feels that burden, the constant prospect that your slave will turn on you, no matter how good you’ve been to him.

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I shouldn’t think this of Tedius, whose bony-nosed Greek face looked anxious on this morning. But I do sometimes, even though that kind of thing rarely happens. Most likely I would look up to no face at the foot of the bed, Tedius having fled for a chance at a better life, a better master. And I would lose not just an excellent slave but a dear friend – something we do not speak of, nor need to.

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“A beautiful morning and still part of it left,” he announced, yanking the drapes open like pulling off a scab. He knows I hate that. He was given to me on my 13th birthday, though he was around well before that as a house slave for my family. Far from cutting my throat, Tedius would be more likely to cut someone else’s – for me, as he has threatened to do in the past.