Gladiators: A Fictional Narrative

Spartacus was captured and placed into slavery; where he was sold to a Gladiator training camp in Capua, Rome. He perfected the art of hand to hand combat to kill any opposing gladiator in the Arena all the while Spartacus devised a plan to escape with other gladiators. Spartacus escaped from slavery and defeated multiple waves of Roman Legions by conquering small towns and villages while gaining material and support, using his unconventional tactics thinking, and by training ordinary men in the art of warfare by his gladiators.

The book The Spartacus War by Barry Strauss is an in depth look at one of Roman history’s most legendary events, the gladiator revolt led by Spartacus. Spartacus has become a legend, creating a storyline that has inspired many movies and television shows, such as Stanley Kubrick’s epic Spartacus in 1960, starring the legendary Kirk Douglas. Spartacus has inspired a perfect mix of men over time with various backgrounds and beliefs, from Stalin and Marx, to Voltaire, and even to Ronald Reagan. How though, did Spartacus create a massive revolt of slaves that would create a massive problem for the mighty Rome? Strauss attempts to create a chronology of the Spartacus War using his vast knowledge of the Italian landscape, ancient documents, and

Dale was growing impatient. “Just tell me what to do.. It's the only thing I need.”

Gladiator is in the manner that the main characters became slaves/gladiators and the aspect of how “freedom” is earned. Maximus on the other hand, was a Roman General that refused to serve for the Roman new emperor, Commodus, who had murdered his father, Marcus Aurelius, in order to obtain control of the Roman Empire. The biggest difference between Gladiator and Spartacus is the manner in which their respective freedom is earned. Gladiators freedom is earned thru defeating Commodus, who sentences Maximus to be executed. The story begins after he escapes his captors and rides off to his farm. This is after he discovers that his family has been murdered by said King/Emperor Commodus. Maximus collapses from exhaustion and is then picked up by slave traders and sold to Proximo, thus leading to his voyage of becoming a Gladiator and his fight against the King. Another difference is that Spartacus is pressured into fighting the best gladiator of the Roman army, upon the conclusion of his training however, he is defeated. Afterward he becomes leader of the Army of Slaves and in an effort to gain the slaves freedom back, he leads them to battle. After being captured, Spartacus ultimately has to fight it out with a slave who is also captured and the winner will be crucified. In Gladiator, Gladiators from all over the Roman

The boat departed at thirteen hundred hours exactly. As I stepped onto the colorful, traditional Maldivian boat my thoughts began to run wild. As the boat began its thirty-minute course, I also began to think about all the things that could go wrong. For example, I began to think about how a great white shark would come up from the dark unknown and swallow me whole or bite my leg off. My thoughts were interrupted by the guide shouting,

Spartacus was born about 109 BC. He was a gladiator. The young Thracian man joined the army. However, when he tried to leave he was forced into slavery as a gladiator. A gladiator is a person who is trained to fight animals or other gladiators with weapons for other people’s entertainment. He is best known for the slave uprising of gladiators he led. He led seventy gladiators to the armory and then escaped. They then traveled to Mount Vesuvius and got more slaves along the way. This scared Rome so they sent an army of 3,000 men under the rule of Claudius Glaber. They surrounded Mount Vesuvius planning to starve the rebels. However, Spartacus and his men snuck down the mountain and attacked the Romans from behind. They killed all

the film. As it now shows that Maximus has only one aspire, to get to

"We don't have time and you know it! We are all dying and it's your fault!" He just stared at me with hate in his eyes. "You do not speak to your king that way. Guards take her back to her room."

The movie Gladiator is, like many movies, thought of as being historically accurate. When looking deeper into this thought one may find a different story about gladiators, perhaps an even more interesting one. The movie accurately portrayed gladiators when showing the …..

Maximus' next fight is a victory against a large undefeated gladiator. Despite Commodus's orders to kill the loser, Maximus spares his defeated opponent's life. This defiance earns him the nickname "Maximus the Merciful" and more cheers of adulation. Angered at this outcome, Commodus enters the arena to taunt Maximus about his family's death. But the gladiator turns his back and walks away, another defiant act that is making him more popular than the

"I'll find someone else for the job. There has to be someone in this shitty town that will do the job for a reasonable price, and not be late to the first meeting." Before he could put his hand on the door there was a laugh from Luna, as she turned her head with a cocky smile. "Good luck, Mister Knight. Hopefully the three of you will make it out of town in one piece."

They came to realize that they didn't need to be a part of our organization anymore, so they revolted. They started rampaging across the lab, destroying everything in their path. They were built to be fighters, indestructible fighters, and they were exactly that. No matter what we threw at them, they handled it with ease, they did their job, now we have to do ours. Our only job is to make sure that these walls keep the gladiators inside, and away from the public. We have to make sure that nobody knows about our secret project.

Often seen as working class heroes, Roman Gladiators have become an icon to the it is nearly impossible to think of the Roman Empire without the association of

I lower my sword and put it back in the hilt. “I can train Sara as a messenger,” I say. “She might not have a job doing it now, but at least I can teach her how to run away if need be.” I lower my sword, sliding it in the scabbard. “Besides, it’s not like I have anything to do.”

Onward, into the deadening mist. Braving the foreboding elements with nothing but flesh, leather and steel. He has said his prayers, and now, as always, he is ready to face his gods with sword in hand.