What if you were born and made a Greek Concubine.

Описание: The animated short film "What if you were born and made a Greek Concubine" (0:00) tells the story of a young nomadic boy from Sythia who is captured by raiders and sold into slavery in ancient Greece.

The video details his journey and transformation:
Early Life & Capture The protagonist starts his life as a nomad on the plains of Sythia, where he is part of a tribe that follows their herds (0:22-0:35). He describes his diet (0:40-0:57) and the way of life (0:58-1:12). At the age of five, his village is attacked by raiders (2:02-2:22), and he is captured and separated from his mother (2:50-2:58). He is then marched for days and eventually taken to the sea, where he sees a ship for the first time (3:54-4:05).
The Sea Voyage & Arrival The boy is pushed into the dark hold of the ship, where he endures a horrific journey (4:16-5:03). He describes the unsanitary conditions and the constant fear of not knowing what's happening (5:06-5:34). Upon arrival at a Greek port, he is herded off the ship and taken to a market (6:06-6:52), where he is stripped and put on display to be sold as a slave (6:52-7:22).
Life as a Concubine He is bought by Alexander, an older, wealthy Greek philosopher (7:32-7:42), who takes him to his lavish home in Athens (8:02-8:26). The boy is cleaned, dressed, and informed that he will be trained for "something higher" than field work, learning Greek music, etiquette, and how to serve Alexander's gatherings (8:45-9:45). His training teaches him to be quiet, useful, and never to say no (10:15-10:21). The first night serving Alexander changes him forever, making him no longer just a servant but a concubine (12:18-12:43).
The Promise of Freedom and Its Revocation As he grows older, he is still considered beautiful (13:06-13:08) and fulfills his role, but his position is challenged when Alexander brings another young boy, Darius, into the household, whom Alexander looks at with the same affection he once showed the protagonist (13:21-13:46). Alexander promises to free him when he turns 20, allowing him to stay as a companion and friend (14:11-14:27). This promise changes his life for the better, giving him dignity and the ability to study philosophy (14:29-14:40). However, the arrival of Alexander's family, especially his wife and daughter, changes his standing in the household (15:04-16:01).
The Daughter's Influence and Final Displacement Alexander's daughter shows an interest in him, engaging in quiet conversations about philosophy and leaving notes for him to answer (16:30-18:12). This connection makes him feel seen as more than a role (18:10-18:12). However, she eventually leaves to be married (18:17-18:42), and soon after, Alexander informs him that "circumstances have changed" and he will be placed elsewhere, revoking the promise of freedom (18:53-19:27).
Later Life and Legacy He is moved to a smaller house, still useful but no longer looked at the same way (20:01-20:08). He continues to teach new, young servants the rules of survival (20:16-20:38). He reflects on his lost life and how he became unremarkable (20:56-21:11). The video concludes by stating that history doesn't record the stories of people like him, only that they were useful until they weren't, implying a tragic and forgotten existence (21:31-21:44).

Concubinage in ancient Greece, as depicted in this video and supported by historical context, was a complex social arrangement, often involving enslaved or foreign individuals who held a lower social status than legal wives but could gain some influence, especially if they bore sons. These individuals provided companionship and sometimes received education in arts to enhance their attractiveness and utility to their masters. However, their lives were fundamentally dependent on their masters' whims, and they lacked significant rights or social standing for their children.