ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 1033 About Dionia Slaves
Pressing and pressing, Publius began to gradually adapt, his voice became smaller and smaller, and he felt a pleasant and tired feeling similar to that after exercise, which made him want to fall asleep.

At this time, the slave began to slap his back with both hands, making him regain his consciousness immediately.After a while, he turned to massaging his head. Publius closed his eyes slightly and was intoxicated again.

When the man stopped massaging, he actually felt like he still had something to say.

"My lord, let me rub your back next." After the slave finished speaking, he spread a clean cloth on his back and began to rub it hard.

This was a completely different feeling from the previous massages and pats. While Publius felt it carefully, the dirt on his body was also rubbed away from his skin one by one.

The servant turned to the wall, took down the copper pot, opened the lid, and poured the liquid inside little by little on Publius.

Publius smelled the familiar smell and asked, "Is this olive oil?"

"Yes, my lord." The servant explained to him: "Because you soaked in hot water and fumigated just now, although it helps blood flow and removes dirt, it also causes a large amount of water loss in the body. Applying olive oil will protect your skin..."

After hearing this, Publius exclaimed: "I really didn't expect that every step in this bathroom is very knowledgeable?!"

"It has been almost 20 years since His Majesty established the hot spring bathhouse. Bathing has become a part of the life of the Turiyi people, and it is still being developed and improved..." Tibrus said proudly: "Just take them before As for the massages, they are not just random massages. They have been trained by Turiyi Hospital and passed the assessment before they can be posted here."

"Oh?" Publius's original judgment was shaken by Tibulus' words: "Aren't they slaves?"

"A slave, but not an ordinary slave." Tibulus' mysterious answer made Publius even more curious.

Before he could ask, the servant who gave him the massage took the initiative to answer: "My lord, we are from Egypt, and we are the descendants of the combination of Egyptians and Greeks..."

As the slave spoke, he used another clean cloth to massage Publius so that the olive oil could spread all over the body and penetrate into the skin as quickly as possible. Since the movements were much gentler than before, it did not affect their speech.

Although he had never been to Egypt, Publius knew about this distant country and had heard that the people there had dark skin. However, the skin color of these two people was relatively normal. It was obviously due to mixed blood. At this time, Rome had not yet left the Western Mediterranean. , even a big clan leader like Publius never owned an Egyptian slave, so he didn't understand: Why are Egyptian slaves not ordinary?
But if he goes to the slave market east of the outer city of Thurii, which is bustling every day, he will know that the price of ordinary slaves in Egypt is much more expensive than slaves of other races. This is due to demand: First of all, the male slaves in Egypt were excellent farmers and herdsmen, while the female slaves were smart and well-behaved and knew how to teach others how to dress up. Secondly, Egyptian slaves worshiped the gods extremely, had gentle personalities, could be submissive, and were relatively safe. Furthermore, Egypt and Dionysius Asia is far away from each other. There has never been a conflict between the two, and naturally there can be no hatred. The Egyptian slaves have nothing to do with the races and forces around Dionia. They are more secure to use. The Senate considers that all the people received by the Kingdom Hotel As a foreign distinguished guest, safety is the most important thing; secondly, he must be able to speak Greek, and his skin must not be too dark, so as not to scare some mountain race envoys who have never seen the world, so I took great pains to choose a mixed race of Egyptian and Greek. slave.

"How many years have you been in Turiyi?" Tibrus asked casually.

"It's been more than four years!" said the younger slave with some resentment: "Based on our past performance, we would have been free after last year's Hatis celebration, but the officials from the Slave Management Office told us that due to The war caused a shortage of labor, and the kingdom's slaves were temporarily released. At this year's celebration, the number of freed slaves will be doubled, and we will be given a certain amount of compensation. But if it comes to October, the war is still going on - "

"Wenuf, don't talk too much, give it a good massage!" The slave who was massaging Publius interrupted him and asked softly: "Two adults, his daughter got a fever yesterday and is being treated in the hospital. My mood has been affected a bit, I hope you don’t take it to heart.”

Tibrutus looked up at the slave standing beside him, until he became panicked, and then slowly said: "Since you have stayed in Turiyi for more than four years, and you are in this Kingdom Hotel, , then you should know what our Kingdom of Dionia praises these envoys the most?"

The slave was a little nervous and didn't know what to say. The older slave quickly replied: "I keep my promise."

"Yes, we keep our promises!" Tibrus said in a deep voice: "What the Slave Management Office said is a decision made by the Senate. Don't worry, you will definitely regain your freedom by this year's celebration and you will definitely be compensated. In addition, Your massage skills are very good, we have nothing to be dissatisfied with."

After hearing this, the two slaves burst into tears and thanked them profusely.

The young slave even said excitedly: "Sir, let me massage you again!"

Tibrus waved his hand and said, "No, it's time to shave me."

The young slave had no choice but to turn around and take off the curved blunt blade from the wall, and pointed it at Tibulus' back.

Publius was startled and shouted urgently: "Stop, what do you want to do?!"

Tibrutus laughed and said, "Don't be nervous, Master Publius. This thing is used to scrape off the oil stains and dirt on the body. This is the last step of the bathroom massage."

"Really?" Publius was doubtful, but soon he experienced that using this blunt blade to gently scrape his body not only did not hurt, but actually gave him a comfortable feeling.

After the massage was over, the slave helped them both stand up and opened the wooden door on the side.

When leaving the room, Tibulus specially said to the young slave: "May Hades bless you and your daughter will recover as soon as possible!"

The slave was immediately excited and thanked Tibulus again.

Leaving the sight of the slaves, Publius couldn't help but sigh in a low voice: "Tibulus, you are too kind to these slaves!"

Tiburus said sternly: "Master Publius, I know that you Romans are strict with slaves, but I advise you to change your attitude towards slaves in the future, because in Dionia, the safety of slaves is at the mercy of the slaves. They are protected by law, and the kingdom has also established a special department to manage them——"

"Slave management office?" Publius blurted out the new term he just heard.

"That's right, both kingdom slaves and private slaves must be registered at the slave management office and be supervised. Not only that, but if you abuse slaves, you will be condemned by the people and your political career will be affected, because you pay attention to fairness The just god Hades protects them.

In addition, the kingdom is not like Rome, and slaves will not always be slaves. As long as the slaves have ambition and work hard, they can gain freedom, then become citizens of Dionia, pass the exam, hold public office, and finally become ministers of the kingdom... this is all possible.Several of the officials who came to Rome this time were once slaves. Marighi, the Minister of Commerce in the Senate who was deeply trusted by His Majesty, was also once a slave, so don't humiliate slaves at will! …”

Publius was deeply moved.

"By the way, sir, how do you feel after the massage?" Tibrus asked.

"My whole body is sore and swollen..." Publius moved his hands and feet and said, "But...it is indeed very comfortable. I almost fell asleep just now, but now I feel that my whole body is much lighter!..."

"Listen to what you said, according to the doctors, your body is rigid and lacks exercise. You will need regular massage in the future to ensure your health..." Tibrus said half-jokingly, half-seriously.

After hearing this, Publius asked seriously: "Is it expensive to go to a bathhouse in Thurii?"

"Public baths are not expensive. The entrance fee is about 1 to 2 obors, but for a specialized massage, the cost is much higher, about 10 to 15 obors at a time... However, some of the kingdom's elders, ministers and wealthy businessmen specialize in It has become a trend to pay your slaves to study in hospitals and bathhouses, and then come back to give yourself massages.”

Publius was greatly moved after hearing this, and then asked with some reluctance: "Is our bathing over?"

"There is one last item -" Tibulus pushed open the wooden door, and there was another pool in the room: "Cold water bath." Cold water!
If it were before entering the bathroom, Publius would definitely retreat, but at this time, after being fumigated and massaged, not only was his body hot, but his skin was also red, like steamed shrimps, so he heard " With the word "cold water", he strode into the pool without hesitation. The cold water immediately drove away the heat in his body, and the pores all over his body tightened rapidly, giving him an indescribable feeling of comfort.

He couldn't help but say: "It would be great to have a glass of wine at this time!"

Tibulus then walked into the pool and said, "Today is too busy. Tomorrow night I will bring you a jar of Thurii's best wine, and we will drink it in the bathroom."

"That's great!" Publius praised loudly while scrubbing the remaining oil stains on his body with clean water: "The baths in Turii are better than what you said, and Turii is also much more prosperous than Rome. , I can’t help but want to move here as soon as possible!”

Tibrus smiled slightly, it seemed that his efforts were not in vain.

(End of this chapter)