March 01: Zero Discrimination Day

"Some More Equal"

During the ancient festival of “Kronia” (“Saturnalia” in Rome), slaves got their only day off, and were permitted a little party. It was a controversial custom, as daily life was marked by exclusion and segregation. In Sparta, citizens called each other “equals”, but just like in other Greek cities, they only intended to be equal to each other, not to women (imagine that!), immigrants, handworkers or “barbarians” (non-Greeks). Let alone slaves. Slaves were “andropodoi”, “animals with feet”, with the status of a tripod or a horse. Only, a horse would get more consideration. Most were brought in from overseas, but poverty could drive free Greeks into slavery too. Millions passed their lives in anonymous suffering and desperation. And to prove the general rule, there’s always the exception. Pasion of Athens gained the trust of his wealthy banker-owners. They granted him his freedom, and eventually left him in charge. When he died, he was a rich and respected man. But if he allowed his slaves a day off at the “Kronia”, we don’t know.​ Back to March overview.

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