<P> The slave was often required to pay for himself an amount at least equivalent to his street value . To this end they could use their savings or take a so - called "friendly" loan (ἔρανος / eranos) from their master, a friend or a client like the hetaera Neaira did . </P> <P> Emancipation was often of a religious nature, where the slave was considered to be "sold" to a deity, often Delphian Apollo, or was consecrated after his emancipation . The temple would receive a portion of the monetary transaction and would guarantee the contract . The manumission could also be entirely civil, in which case the magistrate played the role of the deity . </P> <P> The slave's freedom could be either total or partial, at the master's whim . In the former, the emancipated slave was legally protected against all attempts at re-enslavement--for instance, on the part of the former master's inheritors . In the latter case, the emancipated slave could be liable to a number of obligations to the former master . The most restrictive contract was the paramone, a type of enslavement of limited duration during which time the master retained practically absolute rights . </P> <P> In regard to the city, the emancipated slave was far from equal to a citizen by birth . He was liable to all types of obligations, as one can see from the proposals of Plato in The Laws: presentation three times monthly at the home of the former master, forbidden to become richer than him, etc . In fact, the status of emancipated slaves was similar to that of metics, the residing foreigners, who were free but did not enjoy a citizen's rights . </P>

What best describes the slaves in ancient athens