The Roman civilization was a period when ordinary citizens could purchase goods from all over the world. For them, anything fashionable or entertaining was highly valued, especially the more luxurious and extravagant the goods, the more sought after they became. Thanks to the Edict on Maximum Prices, we know how much some of these luxuries cost, and the figures are quite enticing.
Types of Valuable Goods in Ancient Rome
1. Silk or Purple Clothing
A group of senators wearing red and purple togas.
Silk was a highly prized material. Originating from China, transporting it to Rome was no easy task. Navigating the ancient Silk Road was perilous enough, but shipping it by sea, especially during wartime, made this task even more challenging.
It is no surprise that the starting price for 450 grams of unprocessed white silk was 12,000 denarii. Compared to the average income of most ordinary Romans, which was about 25 denarii per day, accessing this material was truly reserved for the elite.
However, what truly made silk valuable was when it was dyed, with purple being the most expensive color at that time.
Purple dye was one of the most difficult to produce as it was made from extracting mucus from snails. This process was extremely time-consuming, labor-intensive, and odorous, with some historians suggesting that it took 8,000 mollusks to produce just one gram of dye!
If that same unprocessed white silk were dyed purple, the price would soar to 150,000 denarii!
To understand how exorbitant this price was, a tenant farmer would have to work tirelessly for twenty years, saving every last coin just to afford the material.
A dalmaticomafortium, a type of garment with a hood and sleeves made of silk and a band of purple, would vary in price depending on the richness of the purple color. Prices would start at 44,000 denarii and could reach up to 135,000 denarii for a set of clothing, depending on the weight and vibrancy of the dye.
These garments would be intricately designed with gold embroidery and beautiful patterns symbolizing whatever the customer desired. It was a way to showcase one’s status and wealth, which is why this type of attire was so highly regarded.
2. Slaves
A mosaic depicting two female slaves.
Throughout history, slaves have always been considered extremely valuable. However, unlike the Atlantic or Arab slave trades, where race and religion were factors, the Romans did not have such a concept. You were either a civilized person or a barbarian, and only non-Roman citizens could be sold into slavery.
Even the wealthiest could only purchase a few of them. Their prices varied over the years, but a male slave aged between 16 and 40 could fetch up to 30,000 denarii, and this price could increase further if they possessed a specific skill.
What made slaves expensive was that from the fourth century AD onward, the number of people captured in wars gradually decreased, leading to one thing—higher prices.
Similar to purple clothing, owning one or two slaves indicated that you were quite affluent.
3. Racehorses
A depiction of a Roman chariot race.
The unusual price of a racehorse compared to a warhorse illustrates how much the Romans valued entertainment. Although considered a warlike civilization, historian Juvenal thought otherwise:
“Two things that everyone truly longs for: bread and circuses” – Juvenal
To truly demonstrate how far this statement goes, a top warhorse would cost about 36,000 denarii, a significant amount. However, a racehorse would be more than double that at 100,000 denarii. Why?
Because they were beloved. Mosaics with inscriptions like ‘Whether we win or lose, we love you, Polidoxus’ were widely popular, and even Emperor Caligula kept his horse in a marble stable draped with purple blankets.
Owning an expensive horse was considered ‘glory,’ and many owners would send them to races, where they could win substantial prizes.
But the price difference does not end there. The best Arabian camels would cost about 12,000 denarii, but a Bactrian camel with two humps would be significantly more expensive at 60,000. Perhaps it was the oddity that made them more valued, or maybe the fact that they originated from much further away?
Regardless, it shows that the Romans valued entertainment more than warfare.
4. Wild Carnivores
A Barbary lion in the arena.
Entertainment did not stop with horses and camels. In fact, one of the most famous examples of using animals in performances comes from their use in the Colosseum games.
We have all heard stories of gladiatorial fights or prisoners being brought to the arena to be killed by wild beasts, but one question that people often forget to ask is how these animals were captured and transported to Rome?
This is what made lions and leopards incredibly valuable. Hunting them was all well and good, but capturing them alive was no easy feat. And with the growing demand for more games involving larger and more dangerous animals, their prices continued to rise. But how much are we talking about?
Well, a top lion could be sold for 150,000 denarii, with a lioness priced at 125,000. Even leopards could fetch 100,000 denarii, and that is just the cost to purchase them. Imagine the costs of housing, feeding, and protecting them?
However, compared to this, herbivores were much cheaper. For example, an ostrich would only cost 5,000 denarii, and wealthy individuals even brought some back to their gardens. The task of capturing these animals, while challenging, was not as life-threatening as capturing a lion, so there were always people willing to take on this job.
We might think that this is barbaric, but if we were to try to create a Jurassic Park in the future, which dinosaurs do you think people would be more likely to want to see? My money would be on carnivores like T. rex rather than docile herbivores.
When we truly reflect on ourselves and our habits, we are not so different from the Romans.
5. Exotic Spices
A still life from Pompeii depicting a variety of dishes.
Perhaps it is no surprise that the Romans had a love for food, and the wealthy went to extraordinary lengths to ensure that only the most exotic dishes were served at their tables. Think of giant red mullet, whole roasted peacocks, and delicacies like camel’s feet.
But of course, what would a dish be without the right spices? It was not always enough to simply choose local ingredients, and to make an impression, hosts would ensure that guests imagined they had tasted dishes fit for the gods.
Since many of these ingredients came from India and beyond, their prices were quite low. For example, ginger would cost 400 denarii, while pepper would be double that at 800 denarii. The spices we take for granted today were once markers of the highest social classes.
Throughout human history, we have always been drawn to the world around us. But what makes our story interesting is that each civilization and society has its unique preferences.
While the Romans cherished silk and spices for their rarity and exoticness, other cultures differed. For instance, the Chinese were so enamored with jade that they would bury their emperors with it, while ancient Indians valued high-quality sapphires.
Not every society is the same, but rather than finding points of contention, why not come together? Cultures today still value luxuries like gold, silver, and saffron, just as the Romans once did. Instead of hating our differences, let us celebrate what makes us unique and what brings us together.
