Although probably not worn by all slaves - only those thought likely to run away or indeed had run away (and got off "lightly" as they weren't killed) - a slave identification-collar usually identified the owner and promised a reward for slave's return.

In this case, the tag says:

FUGI. TENE ME. CUM REVOCAVERIS ME D. M.
ZONINO, ACCIPIS SOLIDUM

which translates:

I have run away. Catch me. If you take me back to my master Zoninus, you'll receive one solidus (a gold coin).

In the Baths of Diocletian section of the National Museum of Rome.

Roman sculpture of a manumission ceremony: a magistrate with rod has just freed two slaves, who now wear pointy hats denoting their newly-acquired freedom. In the Musee Royale Mariemont, Belgium.

As shown on the Stage 6 title-page of CLC.

For younger surfers. Extremely short paragraphs on Roman slavery, but with attractive photo reconstructions.

Good introduction to Roman slavery, again aimed at younger surfers.

Great, informative webpage on Roman slavery on extremely useful "the-romans.co.uk website".

Another short, informative introduction to Roman slavery from the website of the recent (2001) PBS documentary "The Roman Empire in the 1st Century". Suitable for older kids (KS3+).

Excellent BBC website looking at the lives slaves led, and how some of them managed to get their own back on their masters.

Informative 10-minute documentary accompanying the TV mini-series Rome.

A summary of the detailed, scholarly look by John Madden at the numbers and origins of slaves in the Roman Empire.
Suitable for older students (6th form and beyond).

What the Romans said: quotations from Plautus, Cato and Plutarch.

The first evidence of Roman Britain's slave trade has been unearthed: a receipt for a young French girl bought for the equivalent price of a small sports car today.

Scroll down to "The revolt of Spartacus" to read a straightforward account of the most famous Roman slave rebellion.

Although nearly 50 years old, the movie Spartacus is an epic.

Here's one of the most famous scenes: "I'm Spartacus"; and the hilarious Pepsi spoof!

"Slaves could obtain their freedom by saving up their “peculium” (personal earnings in the form of pocket money, gifts, or tips) until they had enough to buy themselves out. The process of freeing a slave is known as manumission. Slaves could also be freed under a person's will, or being pronounced free in front of five witnesses or in writing."

Taken from "The Classics Pages" website.

>The link shows a Roman sculpture of a manumission - or freedom - ceremony: a magistrate has just freed two slaves by touching them with a rod. They now wear pointy hats denoting their newly-acquired freedom: one shakes hand with his master(?)(now lost from the scultpure), the other kneels in gratitude.

In the Musee Royale de Mariemont in Belgium.

Modern reconstruction of manumission ceremony with slave being freed.

The Wikipedia entry on the emancipation - freeing - of Roman slaves.

Although probably not worn by all slaves, only those thought likely to make a break for it, collars such as these identify the slave and owner and sometimes promise a reward for return.

In this case, the text promises a reward of one solidus (gold coin) to anyone returning the fugitive to his/her master Zonino. Most likely a slave collar, but some have suggested that it could also be an animal collar.

In the Baths of Diocletian section of the National Museum of Rome.

Roman relief sculpture from Neumagen, Germany, showing four slave girls pampering their mistress who sits in a wicker chair.
In Trier Museum.

In the Bardo Museum, Tunisia.

This fresco fragment shows two kitchen slaves gut a small deer.
From a villa near Pompeii; now on display in the Getty Villa, Malibu, USA.

Five young slaves serving at a banquet and carrying a basket of fruit, a tray of cakes, a jug and a plate, a water-boiler and something heavy on a pole!
Originally from Carthage, dating 180-190AD, and now in store at the Louvre, Paris.

Slaves serving water and wine.In the Bardo Museum, Tunis.

Figs and fish for dinner...

3rd century AD glass mosaic of the month of June as a boy.
In the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Conquered Gauls or Germans tied between a trophy of captured weapons and armour are paraded through the streets for puiblic entertainment as part of in a military triumph.
Relief sculpture originally from the interior of the Temple of Apollo Medicus Sossiansus in Rome, a temple probably begun by Gaius Sosius and perhaps lavishly finished by Emperor Augustus as part of his architectural programme.
Now preserved in the Capitoline Museums (Montemartini), Rome.

Gold bracelet found on arm of girl killed while taking refuge from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. On the inside of the bracelet is carved DOM[I]NUS ANCILLAE SUAE: "from the Master to his slave girl".
Found at modern Moregine, near Pompeii; now in the National Archaeological Museum, Naples.

Sad but true...

At the villa at Piazza Armerina in Sicily.