There is no way of knowing how many Roman slaves successfully escaped slavery by running away.

One possible explanation for this is that many Roman slaves were foreigners of Greek origin.

Even a Roman slave usually had some coin about him.

Roman slaves were paid a wage (pecunium) with which they could save up to, in effect, buy themselves.

But it was like an ancient Roman slave pushing on a huge grinding-wheel spoke.

The paper rebuked him, saying even Roman slaves knew freedom was priceless.

They tell me the life of a Roman slave isn't so bad.

A real Roman slave, of course, would be scraping some sweaty tribune with his strigil.

Do you wear it round your ankles, you Roman slave?

If you had to be a slave, it was better to be a Roman slave.