Freeing of slaves

[Randy]

Does anyone know of any sources for edicts or orders of Alexander that freed slaves within the Persian empire after his victory of 331 BC?

[maciek]

I think You mean Greeks from Persepolis - group of peoples crippled by Persians? If so - that good source is Curtius Rufus: "History of ATG"- book V, 17, Marcus Junianus Justin: "Epitoma Historiarum..." book XI, 14, i have polish edition so I writed begenning of the orginal title. Rufus gives the most detailed relation from this event. I hope You thought about this.Maciek

[agesilaos]

I have just re-read Plutarch and Arrian and I cannot recall any but the Persian system , whilst it included the exploitation of and indeed mutilation of war captives does not seem to have been slave based as every subject was a servant of the King, Alexander would feel nop need tio free anyone, he only ever allows people to continue in following their own laws which may be called autonomy were it not for the fact that he exacts tribute.

[maciek]

Hi!This is a diferent slavery - servants of the king - he didn't free them because it was something normal to have the slaves (not only the king) and usual - we should not judge them by today's standards. But diferent was greek slaves cripled by the Persians in Persepolis which was freed when Alexander was close. As Curtius Rufus wrote it was terrible view of bunch of criples - greek slaves - few with cutted leg, few arms, few with no eyes. Alex gave them choice to go back home or to found village in Persia to live there. Also Justin wrote about it. Arrian didn't and Plutarchus also not.Maciek

[marcus]

I think you're right, Maciek. Slavery was the norm in the ancient world and we must also remember that people such as Aristotle maintained that the 'barbarians' were only fit to be slaves... so there was positive encouragement!All the bestMarcus

[agesilaos]

I do not dispute the normality of slavery among ancient societies; but slavery has many forms only some of which confrm to the Graeco-Roman pattern. Even within the Greek world there are variants viz the Helots of Sparta.What I was trying to get at is that Alexander did not find any slaves as such to free, and I too doubt he would have anyway. The war captives in Curtius appear in two stories in one he founds a city for them in the other they are slaughtered, either way this does not seem to spring from any sound tradition.A thought occurs to me, that in Herodotos a man shaves his servant's head to get a message secretly transmitted; was he Greek, in which case the man could be a slave in the Greek way or if Persian what word is being translated by de Selingcourt as 'servant', is it doulos, a slave?