Banausos

A banausos (Greek: βάναυσος) in ancient Greece referred to a person engaged in manual labor, especially a craftsman or artisan. The term carried a derogatory connotation, implying a lack of refinement, culture, and intellectual capacity. While these individuals were essential to the functioning of the economy and society, their work was often viewed as degrading and incompatible with the pursuit of virtue and citizenship.

The negative perception of banausoi stemmed from the association of manual labor with necessity and servitude. Those who worked with their hands were seen as being concerned primarily with material needs, lacking the leisure and freedom required for intellectual and political participation. Philosophers like Aristotle argued that banausoi were unfit for citizenship because their work left them morally and intellectually compromised.

This social hierarchy placed a high value on leisure, philosophy, and political activity, which were considered the domains of free citizens who did not need to engage in manual labor. Slaves and foreigners often performed the most arduous and unskilled tasks, further contributing to the low status of manual labor in general.

The concept of banausia, the condition or status of being a banausos, thus represented a significant social and philosophical divide in ancient Greek society, highlighting the tension between practical necessity and the pursuit of higher ideals. The term's negative connotation persisted even though the contributions of artisans and craftsmen were crucial to the material well-being of the polis.