| Spartacus: Blood and Sand | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background Information | |
| Name: | Spartacus: Blood and Sand |
| Created by: | Steven S. DeKnight |
| Written by: | Aaron Helbing Todd Helbing |
| Main Cast: | Andy Whitfield Liam McIntyre |
| Country of origin: |
United States |
| No. of Seasons: |
4 |
| No. of Episodes: |
34 |
| About the Show | |
| Statue: | Over |
| Networks: | Starz |
| GALLERY | |
Betrayed by the Romans, forced into slavery, reborn as a Gladiator. The classic tale of the Republic's most infamous rebel comes alive in the graphic and visceral new series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Torn from his homeland and the woman he loves, Spartacus is condemned to the brutal world of the arena where blood and death are primetime entertainment. But not all battles are fought upon the sands. Treachery, corruption, and the allure of sensual pleasures will constantly test Spartacus. To survive, he must become more than a man, more than a gladiator. He must become a legend.
Summary[]
The story begins with an unnamed Thracian's involvement in a campaign against the Getae (In what today is Romania) under the command of the legatus, Claudius Glaber. In 72–71 BC, Roman general Marcus Terentius, proconsul of the Roman province of Macedonia, marched against the Getae, allies of Rome's enemy, Mithridates VI of Pontus. The Getae frequently raid the Thracians' lands to the south, so the Thracians are persuaded by Glaber to enlist in the Romans' service as auxiliaries. Glaber, persuaded by his wife Ilithyia to seek greater glory, decides to break off the Getae campaign in order to confront the forces of Mithridates in Asia Minor. The Thracian preferring to protect his homeland as promised, feels betrayed and leads a mutiny against Glaber, but returns to find his village in flames. The Thracian finds his wife Sura, but they are captured by a vengeful Glaber the next day; the Thracian is condemned to die in the gladiator arena, while Sura is condemned to slavery.
The Thracian is shipped to Capua in Italy, a center of gladiator training. Against all odds he slays the four gladiators appointed to execute him in the arena and becomes an instant sensation with the crowd. Senator Albinius commutes the punishment from death to slavery. The prisoner's true name unknown, Lentulus Batiatus, the owner of a ludus in Capua, suggests the name "Spartacus" because he fought like the ferocious Thracian king of that name. Noting well the Thracian's fierce raw talent and popularity with the masses, Batiatus purchases him for training within the walls of his ludus under the tutelage of the Doctore (or instructor) Oenomaus, a former gladiator and fellow slave. He is befriended by Varro, a Roman who sold himself into slavery to pay his debts and support his family. He is harassed by more senior gladiators, notably Crixus, an undefeated Gaul, and Barca, a Carthaginian. Spartacus soon learns that Sura was sold to a Syrian slave trader. Batiatus, who has been unable to control Spartacus during his first days of training, returns a makeshift garter of hers, and promises to find Sura and reunite them in exchange for his cooperation in the arena.
Characters[]
Main Characters
- Spartacus – a Thracian warrior who is condemned to slavery as a gladiator.
- Crixus – a Gaul, he is Batiatus' top gladiator. Naevia's lover.
- Lucretia – Batiatus' wife, and soon suffered at the hands of her former lover Crixus.
- Ilithyia – Daughter of a Senator, & Glaber's wife, and forced to stay at Capua by Spartacus' rebellion.
- Gaius Claudius Glaber – Ilithyia's husband and a praetor. Responsible for Spartacus' enslavement.
- Agron -a new German gladiator recruit who helps Spartacus plot his uprising.
- Mira – a slave girl sent to seduce Spartacus and become his lover, under threat of death.
- Doctore – an African slave who serves as trainer of Batiatus' gladiators.
- Julius Caesar – a young but seasoned soldier from a rich family who is enlisted to stop the rebel camp.
- Gannicus – a Celtic gladiator who is the champion of the Batiatus' ludus.
- Varro – a Roman citizen who sold himself to the ludus to support his family.
- Naevia – Lucretia's loyal body slave. She becomes Crixus' lover.
- Ashur – Former gladiator from Syria whose leg was crippled in the arena by Crixus.
Recurring Characters
- Barca – nicknamed the "Beast of Carthage", he is one of Batiatus' most successful gladiators.
- Pietros – Barca's younger gay lover and partner.
- Sura – Spartacus' wife.
- Aurelia – Varro's wife.
- Melitta – Lucretia's body slave and the wife of Oenomaus.
Spartacus Episode Guide[]
|
Season One - Blood and Sand |
Prequel - Gods of the Arena |
|
Season Two- Vengeance |
Season Three - War of the Damned |
Cast[]
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Stars
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Recurring Roles
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Crew[]
Promotional Quotes[]
Notes[]
- Craig Parker, Lucy Lawless and Manu Bennett all appear on Xena: Warrior Princess and Spartacus: Blood and Sand.
- Two books were released, relating to the show.
- Spartacus: Swords & Ashes by J.M. Clements - January 3, 2012
- Spartacus: Morituri by Mark Morris
Videos[]
Funny Deleted Scenes from Spartacus - In The Pit - Roaches and Mud - Andy Whitfield
HD Spartacus 2 Blood & Sand - Exposing Your Ludus - Behind The Scenes - Learn44.com - Fun54.com
Spartacus Interview Liam McIntyre!.
Spartacus Vengeance interview - July 2011