Spartacus

I was struggling along, but could not go much further. I slipped in fell in the hot Libyan sand. Then, this large Thracian came to my aid. He threw off my pack, of which I had carried up from the mine. The guards ordered him to leave me yet still he stayed. One of the guards then tried to physically move him. The Thracian then turned around and grabbed the soldier. They both slid down the sheer slope. When the tangle finally stopped the Thracian grabbed the ankle of the guard and bit his Achilles tendon. The guard screamed out in intense pain from the injury. Another of the guards came up behind my friend and struck him across the back of the head, rendering him unconscious. Having put up with this specific slave enough the guards decided to make an example of him by having him bound to a rock and starved to death. This is how Lentulus Batiatus found Spartacus. Lentulus was searching for new recruits for his gladiator training camp in Capua, when he stumbled upon Spartacus tied to a rock. His purchase of Spartacus would affect Rome like only a soothsayer could predict.

Life at the gladiator camp was neither easier nor safer than in the mines of Libya. Spartacus was put through a rigorous physical training course. He is taught to fight with the Thracian short sword and shield. After several weeks of being in the camp, Crassus, a senator with an extreme love for the city of Rome, stops by to buy two pairs of gladiators to fight to the death. One of those pairs includes Spartacus and a gladiator named Draba. The fight was long, with both fighters intent on winning. Spartacus was defeated, but his victor refused to kill him, instead threw his trident up into the elevated stands of the senator. When he charged Crassus, the senator quickly put an end to his life.

After this event, Crassus hurriedly left, but he was convinced by Lentulus to purchase a slave woman named Varinia. Unfortunately for Crassus and Lentulus, Varinia had fallen in love with Spartacus. Distraught over the lost of his lover, Spartacus started a revolt. This revolt left Spartacus in control of Capua and all of the surrounding areas, including all of the local slaves.

As this is happening, conspiracy is abroad in the Senate. Gracchus has convinced Crassus' friend, Marcus Glabrus, to take the Garrison of Rome out to crush the revolt. This would leave the city open to be controlled by Julius Caesar. On his way back, Crassus purchases yet another slave. The slave's name is Antoninus, and he is a singer of learning songs, from Sicily. Hearing of Spartacus through his master, Antoninus leaves, in search of Spartacus and his army.

Spartacus reviews some new recruits, assigning them positions according to their skills. Antoninus, who is among them, identifies himself as a poet and illusionist. Later he entertains the slave army, but he is determined to be a soldier, indirectly commenting on the relation between politics and art. Spartacus is reunited with Varinia, who had escaped from the portly Batiatus: he had run after her, but was too fat to catch her. After destroying the Garrison of Rome, Spartacus outlines his plan to escape by sea, aboard the ships of the Cillian pirates, whom he is able to pay from the plunder the slave army has amassed.

Rome sends armies to stop the rebellion, but Spartacus defeats all of them. Crassus resigns from the Roman Senate, apparently to share the disgrace of his friend Glabrus, of who has been exhiled due to his poor decision has cost the Garrison of Rome many of its soldiers. However, Gracchus suspects he is waiting for the situation to become so desperate that the senators will make him dictator of Rome, thus neutralizing Gracchus' rival party. Gracchus, in spite of Crassus, maneuvers to help the slaves escape in order to deny Crassus his opportunity. Caesar betrays Gracchus, and Crassus pays out much of his own money to defeat the plan.

Spartacus and his army finally reach the shore, only to find that the Cilicians have sold their loyalty to Crassus. In respect though, the Cilicians offer to transport Spartacus, his family, and his senior officers. They will be taken to Asia to live like kings. Spartacus makes the noble decision and decides to stay with his army. Spartacus now has the sea at his back with the armies of Rome at his front. The only option for Spartacus is to take the Appian Way and attack the city of Rome. Crassus hires Lentulus to identify Spartacus once the battle is won, as payment, Lentulus will become the owner of the survivors of Spartacus's army, making him a very wealthy man.

The battle results in the complete defeat of the slave army and the capture of many survivors, of