Disability in Ancient Rome

Posted by Natasha Sheldon Jul 13, 2008

A unique first century AD burial ground has been found near Rome's main airport, dedicated not to the privileged elite but to Rome's lower classes. It not only offers an insight into the lives and ailments of Rome's working class but also provides evidence that at least some with disabilities were cared for.

It is usually assumed that those with any physical flaws were exposed as children. Whilst the Emperor Claudius acts as evidence that this was not always the case amongst the upper classes, it was likely that the lower classes would be more pragmatic about the matter.

Amongst the 300 skeletons excavated was that of a man in his 30's with a fused jaw. Archaeologists indicate that this was a lifelong condition that would have necessitated the individual being fed with liquids or semi solid food through a hole in his teeth.

Whilst this indicates that the man's family did not discard him because of his infirmity, its dangerous to read too much into the discovery The man's disability would not have prevented him from earning a living. That is likely to have been the deciding factor in his salvation.