List of Spartacus: Blood and Sand characters

Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that focuses on the historical figure of Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S. DeKnight and Robert Tapert focused on structuring the events of Spartacus' obscure early life leading to the records of history.^[1] This article serves as a list of characters for the television series.

Main characters

Spartacus

Portrayed by Andy Whitfield. A Thracian who becomes a gladiator in the ludus of Lentulus Batiatus. Having been considered a traitor and dishonor bringer for Rome, by disobeying the order of the legatus Claudius Glaber. Spartacus and his wife are separated. Spartacus' wife, Sura is condemned to slavery, and Spartacus is taken to Rome to be executed in the games. However when his talent with the sword are shown to Batiatus, and the rest of the crowd, he's purchased to train in the Batiatus ludus. Eventually Batiatus makes a false agreement with Spartacus to reunite him with his wife, if he continued to fight and win.

Quintus Lentulus Batiatus

Portrayed by John Hannah. A lanista and Spartacus' master. He schemes to become a Roman magistrate. His schemes including ridding himself of his rival Solonius, as well as gaining sufficient advantage with the local magistrate Calavius and legatus Glaber so that they will provide him patronage. However, after refusing to support his ambition, Batiatus kidnaps and kills Calavius. Using blackmail and the aid of Ashur, he has Solonius condemned to the arena, framed for Calavius's murder, and earns the support of Glaber. His plans to control Spartacus (killing his wife so he has no reason to attain his freedom) are uncovered, ultimately bringing his downfall as he celebrated his apparent victory. He is slain by Spartacus at the beginning of the rebellion in the season finale.

Lucretia

Portrayed by Lucy Lawless. Batiatus' wife. She has taken Crixus as a lover, originally for him to provide an heir for Batiatus, which she strongly desires to do. She acts as a willing partner in order to advance Batiatus' goals and uses deception and blackmail to further his aims. She is critically wounded by an angered Crixus, doing so to prevent her from bearing his child, during the rebellion. She will return in Season 2.

Doctore/Oenomaus

Portrayed by Peter Mensah. Slave and trainer of gladiators in Batiatus' ludus. He believes in the honor of the ludus and the House of Batiatus until he learns differently. Batiatus proposes to make Oenomaus master of the ludus if he is successful in his political ambition. He later aids in the rebellion of the ludus.

Crixus

Portrayed by Manu Bennett. A Gaul, he is Batiatus' top gladiator, the lover of Lucretia and the "Champion of Capua". He despises Spartacus and believes in the brotherhood of the mark, i.e. being a gladiator is a huge honor and service to the city. However, when paired in a match with Spartacus against an unbeaten foe, Theokoles, he is severely wounded, costing him the title. Spartacus emerges victorious from the match and becomes the new "Champion", giving Crixus more reason to hate him. Crixus is the object of lust for many women, but only desires to be with Naevia. Once their affair is discovered, he is beaten and Naevia is sold off. He and Spartacus are scheduled to fight to the death and the two talk the day before. He originally refuses to join in Spartacus' rebellion but the two strike an accord: If Spartacus wins he will find and free Naevia; if Crixus wins the rebellion will not happen, but he will kill Batiatus one day. After Crixus discovers his food was drugged, he decides to take part in the rebellion, launching Spartacus into the balcony.

Ashur

Portrayed by Nick Tarabay. A Syrian and former gladiator. His leg was crippled by Crixus in the arena so he now serves Batiatus as a bookkeeper and henchman. His cunning and talents serve Batiatus but also condemn his enemies. His machinations cost Barca and Pietros their lives. His aid proves invaluable in removing Calavius and Solonius. Batiatus promotes him from the ludus and makes him a part of his household as a result. His treachery in the fate of Barca and Calavius is uncovered, which almost costs him his life at the hands of Oenemaus, however he manages to hide under a Roman soldier's corpse.

Ilithyia

Portrayed by Viva Bianca. The daughter of senator Albinius and wife of Glaber. She hates Spartacus and forms a close friendship with Lucretia, frequently visiting the ludus. An arrangement where Illythia has sex with Crixus is set up, but a jealous Lucretia instead has a masked Ilithyia lay with a masked Spartacus. Licinia, cousin of Marcus Crassus, and Lucretia interrupt, causing Illythia to kill Licinia. Ilithyia then seduces the boy Numerius into having Varro, Spartacus's only friend, put to death by Spartacus. Ilithyia escapes during the revolt but unregretfully causes the death of many friends by locking the doors to prevent anyone escaping as the rebels go on a murderous rampage.

Gaius Claudius Glaber

Portrayed by Craig Parker. Husband of Ilithyia. A Roman army legatus who is responsible for Spartacus' enslavement as a gladiator. Glaber requested the aid of Spartacus' tribe of Thracians in return for Roman aid against their enemies. When Roman interests changed, the Thracians rebelled and Glaber put down the insurrection. He then sold Spartacus' wife Sura to a Syrian slave trader, and later Spartacus to the ludus of Batiatus. Many months later, after it is revealed to him that his wife murdered Licinia, the cousin of Marcus Crassus, he is forced to grant Batiatus patronage in his quest to gain political station.

Varro

Portrayed by Jai Courtney. A Roman citizen who sold himself to the ludus to support his family, also a good friend of Spartacus. He and Spartacus form a close friendship. Varro is killed when Numerius forces Spartacus to kill him after a duel that was simply for show. He left behind a son and a pregnant wife who was raped by one of his old friends.

Barca

Portrayed by Antonio Te Maioha. Nicknamed the "Beast of Carthage", he is one of Batiatus' most successful gladiators. He served as bodyguard and hit man for his master. Barca attempted to save up enough money to buy freedom for himself and his lover, Pietros. However, due to Ashur's machinations to avoid paying Barca money owed from losing a bet, questions regarding the latest murder committed on the part of Batiatus arise, and his death is ordered by his master.

Sura

Portrayed by Erin Cummings. The wife of Spartacus. She is enslaved after her husband rebels against the Romans. Batiatus purchases her, but has Aulus murder her in order to break Spartacus' desire for escape.

Naevia

Portrayed by Lesley-Ann Brandt. Lucretia's personal and loyal slave. She becomes Crixus' love interest after he declares his affection. The two are seen making love by Ashur, and in attempt to gain vengeance on Crixus for crippling him, asks for Naevia's purity from Batiatus. After Naevia reveals this to Crixus, he attacks Ashur, revealing their affair to all. Naevia is then sold.

Other characters

Slaves and employees in the household of Batiatus

• Medicus (David Austin). Employed to treat the gladiators' injuries.
• Mira (Katrina Law). House servant. She develops affection for Spartacus and aids him in his rebellion, later becoming his lover.
• Aurelia (Brooke Williams). Free Roman wife of Varro. Attempting to take care of their child after Varro sells himself as a gladiator, she is raped by an acquaintance. When Varro spurns her afterwards, she murders the rapist and they reconcile. After Varro's death at Spartacus' hand, she aborts the rapist's child and sells herself into slavery to see their child provided for. Seeking revenge upon Spartacus, she learns that the death was not his doing, but that of Numerius. During the rebellion, she kills the young Roman, while screaming for Varro.
• Pietros (Eka Darville). Gay lover of Barca and slave of Batiatus. He dreams of freedom with Barca once enough money has been earned to buy their freedom. However, after Barca's demise, Pietros is left without a protector. Gnaeus soon begins raping Pietros, leading Pietros to commit suicide.
• Aulus (Mark Mitchinson). Batiatus' hitman. He retrieves Sura on Batiatus' orders and murders her. He is choked to death by Spartacus once Sura's death, and Batiatus' hand in it, is revealed.
• Hector (Tim Foley). A guard. Naevia steals his gate key to lay with Crixus. After this incompetence is revealed, he is beheaded.

Other Gladiators in the ludus of Batiatus

• Hamilcar (Siaosi Fonua). The Sardinian, killed during the revolt.
• Gnaeus (Raicho Vasilev). Killed by Spartacus after Gnaeus's abuses led to Pietros's suicide.
• Agron (Daniel Feuerriegel). Older of the German brothers. He becomes an ally of Spartacus and is the first to join him in his plan to take back their freedom.
• Duro (Ande Cunningham). Younger of the German brothers who dies in the slave revolt.
• Rhaskos (Ioane King). A Gaul. Killed by Batiatus in the slave revolt
• Kerza (Karlos Drinkwater). A captured fugitive who is forced to become a gladiator. He is killed in the Pits.
• Segovax (Mike Edward). A slave purchased by Batiatus. He fights under Ilithyia, who has him attempt to kill Spartacus in exchange of freedom. He is stopped by Crixus, and later emasculated and crucified.

Other Gladiators

• Theokoles (Reuben De Jong). An albino Spartan towering above all of his opponents (the actor who plays him stands 6' 10"). He was undefeated and had previously defeated as many as 100 men in a single spectacle. He has won many fortunes and his freedom several times, but continues to fight high-profile matches. Immensely strong and impervious to pain, Theokoles was unbeaten prior to the Shadow Games episode. Doctore, who is the only man to survive a battle with Theokoles (and still bears the scars of the match), personally trains Spartacus and Crixus for the spectacle. Theokoles meets his end during a match between himself and Crixus and Spartacus, the former's aid allowing Spartacus to become the victor.
• Anubis (Marcus Johnson II). The editor of the games held in The Pits of The Underworld.
• Ixion (Campbell Cooley). Fierce warrior who fights in The Pits. He wears the severed faces of his killed foes. He is responsible for Kerza's death, and meets his own end when Spartacus kills him with his own axe.
• Pericles (-).The Champion of Pompeii. Killed by Crixus in the Pompeii's Games.

Other Romans and Capuans

• Albinius (Kevin J. Wilson). A Roman senator and Ilithyia's father.
• Marcus Decius Solonius (Craig Walsh-Wrightson). A Capuan lanista and rival of Batiatus. He tries to bring down Batiatus, but is ultimately caught in the webs of Batiatus and condemned to die in the arena, being framed for the murder of magistrate Calavius. He is slain by Spartacus, but not before the gladiator informs him that Batiatus and his entire house will follow Solonius to the underworld. Solonius dies laughing to the roar of the crowd.
• Titus Calavius (John Bach). Magistrate of Capua. He mistakenly insults Batiatus, leading to a scheme where he is murdered in the sewers beneath Capua.
• Numerius Calavius (Lliam Powell). The son of magistrate Calavius. Seduced by Iliythia, he orders the death of Varro to please her. During the rebellion, he is killed by a vengeful Aurelia, wife of Varro.
• Ovidius (Matthew Chamberlain). A Capuan businessman of whom Batiatus owes money to, later killed by him. Also Titus Calavius' cousin.
• Mercato (Greg Ward). A Roman politician and grandson of Marcus Minucius Rufus, a famous conqueror of the Thracians. Although the original character's name was Erebus, the name was changed to Mercato prior to filming.
• Licinia (Brooke Harman) (credited as Brooke Harmon). A rich Roman noblewoman and cousin of Marcus Licinius Crassus, a Roman senator. She is a friend to Iliythia and visits Lucretia, asking to partake of the pleasures of the ludus, i.e. a sexual encounter with a gladiator. She asks for Spartacus by name. When she and Lucretia discover Iliythia having sex with Spartacus, she wonders at the tale of the wife of Glaber sleeping with his most hated enemy. Enraged, Iliythia kills Licinia. Licinia's murder is used by Batiatus to gain patronage from the legatus.
• Domitia (Janine Burchett). The wife of magistrate Calavius and mother of Numerius. She is slain during the rebellion.
• Caecilia (Tania Nolan). Friend and follower of Licinia and Iliythia.
• Aemilia (Mia Pistorius). Friend and follower of Licinia and Iliythia, murdered during the revolt.
• Sextus (Andrew Laing). Husband of Aemilia. Killed by Spartacus at the beginning of the revolt after Batiatus shields himself.
• Ramel (Jon Brazier). A Capuan merchant of jewels.
• Iovis (Josh Randall). Glaber's toughest guard/soldier.
• Pompeii Magistrate (Philip Grieve).

References

1. ^ Interview: Steven S. DeKnight and Robert Tapert from Spartacus: Blood And Sand

External links

• Cast list on official site
• Download Spartacus Download Spartacus episodes