This post is also available in: French, Italian, Spanish

Spartacus

: Spartacus (Starz TV)

: Spartacus in Capua (Starz TV)

: “The Gladiador” (Russel Crowe)

: Spartacus (Kirk Douglas)

: Amphitheater’s Arena

: Hypogeum (subterranean passages)

Spartacus is the most famous gladiator of all time. According to Appian, he was “a Thracian by birth, who had once served as a soldier with the Romans, but had since been a prisoner and sold for a Gladiator”.

He was born in 109 BC and, after becoming a slave, was trained at the gladiatorial school of Capua (the biggest and most famous at that time) belonging to Lentulus Batiatus.

He is known as the slave who broke the chains. In 73 BC Spartacus raised an army of slaves and challenged the mighty Rome.

Spartacus’ rebellion has been always interpreted as the symbol of oppressed people fighting for their freedom against a powerful slave-owning oligarchy. It has been an inspiration to many political thinkers, and has been featured in literature, television, and numerous films.