What did Roman slaves have?

Answer 1

Roman slaves always had the reality of future freedom. I am not speaking of the incorrigible ones or the criminal slaves who were most often sent to the mines where life was short and hard. The ordinary domestic slave had his/her food, clothing and shelter and his medical needs, if any, taken care of. He also had his "peculium" which was his savings. With this he could buy his freedom. However quite often masters or mistresses would free slaves voluntarily. If this happened, the slave still owed service to his former master a few days a week, and he would become his master's client. He would be doing service, if needed, for his former master, while still enjoying the former master's protection and his own freedom. Even the public slaves who worked on the building projects and renovations had these benefits although their chances of making "side money" were less than a domestic's. Most masters freed a certain number of slaves in their wills.