Slaves and Metics

Explain the importance of metics and slaves in ancient athenian society

Slavery was a necessary institution in Athenian society; it was simply a way of life. Slavery played a major role in ancient Greek civilization and slaves could be found everywhere. They were the property of their owners and could be bought and sold at any time in places like markets, where the two great sources of slave supply were: the Asian Minor region (Lydia and Phrygia) and the Black Sea region, especially the northern shores, know as Scythia.

Aristotle described them as a “tool that happens to be alive” and a “possession that breathes”. They were called “andropada”, literally meaning “human feet”
They worked not only as domestic servants, but as factory workers, shopkeepers, mineworkers, farm workers and as ship's crewmembers. There may have been as many, if not more, slaves as free people in ancient Greece.
They were even employed in the Athenian government as clerks, attendants, mi...