Romans wanted to believe that their slaves were all loyal members of the family, but they were also aware that they were independent, thinking beings. One result of this was fear. This was especially true for the elite, who were vastly outnumbered in their homes by their slaves. One result of this fear was the senatus consultum Silianum, a senatorial decree dealing with slaves whose master had been murdered or died under suspicious circumstances. Those who had been in the house at the time were to be interrogated under torture, and if they were complicit (or had simply failed to help), they were to be executed.

As no home can be safe except if slaves are" compelled and guard their masters both from members of the household and from outsiders at the risk of their own lives, decrees of the...