This version of the Greek Slave differs from previous versions in one crucial way: the alteration of the woman's constraints. Though some scholars argue for ideological or historical motivations behind "swapping out the link chain associated with American slavery for more historically accurate rectangular manacles" (Miller 646), Powers explained the reason as a matter of practicality: "I regard the substitution of the regular manacles for the rather ornamental than rent chain—in former repetitions of the Greek Slave as a decided advantage. Since it distinguishes it from all the others, and is really more to the purpose. The figure on this account can hardly be called a repetition, since it has a difference" (26 Nov. 1869, Hiram Powers).
Image Source: The Brooklyn Museum