Invisible Romans (60 page)

7. Slaves and ordinary free men gather animals from the hunt to ship to the city for popular arena games.

8. Prostitutes advertise their wares. Scene from the dressing room of a Pompeian bath-and-brothel show risqué acts as a perhaps playful reminder to those disrobing or robing that sexual services are available. The boxes portray clothes hampers for bathers.

9. Entertainment. Gambling was popular with ordinary men, whether with dice or other games of skill and chance. Here two men play at a table, probably in a tavern.

10. An everyday woman. The lack of jewelry and plain garment indicate that this is an ordinary woman, pensively looking out at us.

11. Another ordinary woman.

12. Nursing mother. Although wetnurses were available, many ordinary women nursed their children.

13. Midwife delivers a baby. The birthing chair was standard, as was the use of a midwife while in labor.

14. Letter in a woman’s own hand. Thermouthas writes to her mother telling her about her pregnancy, sending news, and asking about her father’s health.

15. Their daily bread. Workmen construct a wall.

16. A peasant at work. The farmer takes his local produce to market.

17. Poor fishermen with their rods.

18. A beggar with his dog at his side seeks alms from a wealthy woman.

19. Punishment of a slave. A man strikes a slave with his fist, probably enacting a scene from drama, but certainly reflecting real life.