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Ancillae

Four ancillae assisting their mistress, on a funerary relief from Roman Germany (ca. 220 AD)
Gold armilla from Moregine, near Pompeii, with inscription Dominus ancillae suae, "The master to his slavegirl."

Ancillae (plural) (singular, ancilla) were female house slaves in ancient Rome, as well as in Europe during the Middle Ages.[1]

In Medieval Europe, slavery was gradually replaced by serfdom, but a small number of female slaves were imported as household servants for the wealthy, most commonly in Italy, Spain and France.[1]

  1. ^ a b Judith M. Bennett & Amy M. Froide, Singlewomen in the European Past, 1250-1800

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