Lucius Caelius

Lucius Caelius

First appearance	S2E05: Libertus
Last appearance	S2E08: Balance
Profession	Roman Noble (Formerly) Temple Overseer Rebel
Race	Roman
Relationships	Spartacus (Friend/Leader/Comrade, deceased) Mira (Protege/Friend, deceased) Nasir (Friend) Agron (Rival/Friend/Comrade) Crixus (Comrade, deceased) Oenomaus (Comrade, deceased) Saxa (Comrade, deceased) Lugo (Comrade, deceased) Nemetes (Comrade, deceased) Sedullus (Comrade, deceased) Ilithyia (Rival, deceased) Lucius Cornelius Sulla (Archenemy, deceased) Gaius Claudius Glaber (Enemy, deceased) The Egyptian (Enemy, deceased) Octavius Tarsus (Enemy, deceased) Salvius (Enemy, deceased)
Status	Deceased (Killed by The Egyptian)
Actor/Actress	Peter McCauley

Lucius Caelius of the Caelian clan was an unexpected ally to Spartacus and the Slave Army. His family was struck down through the proscription program implemented by Lucius Cornelius Sulla, a prominent Roman politician who achieved consulship in 88 BCE and ruled as Rome's dictator for three years until retiring. Forever begrudging his people for the loss of his family, Lucius would go on to serve the rebels in their early efforts before giving his own life to their cause.

Appearance[]

Lucius appears as an bearded elderly man with long blonde hair. Though dressed in a set of Roman attire, he does not consider himself as such any longer and as a result his appearance is more attuned to that of a hermit as he rarely engages with outsiders.

Personality[]

Lucius is an elderly man who appears to be something of a hermit, keeping to himself at his temple and only ever leaving when he needs supplies. Once a proud Roman, he now holds nothing but great disdain for them for having ruined him and no longer refers to them as kin. Because of this, he welcomes Spartacus and the rest of the rebels into his temple to act as a sanctuary and would become a respected asset to their group.

Lucius has strong moral values as he believes in the Rebel's cause for freedom from the Romans and assists in the tactics and planning with Spartacus. He also advises, even going so far as to chastise, Spartacus against doing immoral actions such as when Spartacus was wanting to coldly kill Ilithyia. Regardless of the few disagreements he has with some of the Rebels' actions, he is ulitmately loyal to Spartacus and the cause of freedom.

Combat Prowess[]

While not a warrior, Lucuis possesses great skill in archery, a skill that Spartacus takes note of and has him train the other rebels in. His knowledge of archery passed down to the rebels becomes an incredible advantage to the rebel army.

History[]

Lucius Caelius was once a proud Roman. A noble of status, he had a villa, a stable, a wife, and children. When Cornelius Sulla seized power and became Rome's dictator, Lucius didn't support him and as a result he fell into ruin, losing his family and everything else. With nothing left, he became a hermit in the Vesuvius Temple and came to hate the Romans and everything they stand for, only associating with the cities of Atella and Neapolis for trade.

Vengeance[]

Lucius is first seen holding a bow and arrow pointed at Spartacus and Agron following their discovery of his temple. Due to the way they were dressed he assumes them to be bandits or thieves and responds hostile towards them. After hearing Spartacus' name, however, he changes his tone to one of joy and invites the rebels into his temple, which has been vacant and without worship for many years.

Though suspicious of him at first, the rebels would come to respect him and treat him as one their own after hearing of his own hatred for Romans, who had killed his family and brought him to ruin. His temple would then become the sanctuary the rebels and escaped slaves need and becomes a home to them all, as well as a place for training.

Following the rescue from the Capua Arena, he looks over Oenomaus and leaves him in the care of those with medical knowledge. He would become an instructor for the slaves in archery, noting that this skill would most likely be needed in the coming days. He would instruct Mira closely and becomes amazed at her skill and swift progress. Later on, he watches Spartacus battle Gannicus, in awe at their skill before Mira shoots an arrow at Chadara. He compliments her shot at Chadara who is exposed as the traitor of the rebels.

He would take the role as a Roman merchant in order to aid in the gathering of the German soldiers from Neapolis alongside Spartacus, Agron and Donar. Later, after the rescue, he and Crixus express doubt at the newly recruited Germans in both their loyalty as well their recklessness, something Spartacus does take note of.

When Spartacus and Gannicus arrive with Ilithyia, Lucius shows some disdain for her capture and the desire to kill her. He later offers her kindness of water and food, with Ilithyia expressing shock at how a Roman would aid the rebels. He reveals his story to her to which she tries to convince him to free her with hopes of his status returning to which Lucius appears to be slightly interested.

Luciusdeath — Death of Lucius by The Egyptian.

He later goes to Capua to discuss terms with Glaber regarding exchange of weapons and armor for the life of Ilithyia. After terms are agreed to he would fearlessly stare down Glaber's mercenaries and The Egyptian in particular. Later at the exchange after words between Spartacus and Glaber a fight ensues and Lucius appears alongside Mira as archers and support. To allow Spartacus and the rest escape, Lucius stays behind to fend them off, but is eventually beheaded by The Egyptian. Before he is killed, he begins to tell The Egyptian that he is relieved that he will not lose his life to a Roman.

Trivia[]

Peter McCauley, the actor who plays Lucius is 185cm (6'0") tall.
Despite being of the Republic, Lucius is highly respected by the rebels, even by those such as Crixus and Agron who despise Romans above all others.
As Caelius and his family were victim of Sulla's proscriptions in the 80's BCE, its possible that Marcus Licinius Crassus, who was entrusted with the proscriptions of Sulla's enemies, may have included the names of Caelius' family on the lists for the cynical purpose of lining his own pockets.
- The Roman Gens Caelia was a prominent Plebeian lineage, with various branches of the clan holding such political offices as Tribunus Plebis and the Consulship. The gens was said to have traced their ancestry to an Etruscan prince called Caelius Vibenna, an ally of King Romulus of Rome. The Caelian Hill in Rome was named for him, as it was settled by Caelius Vibenna's kin and followers.
- As a Roman citizen of high status and with holdings in Campania, Lucius Caelius would have been part of the Ordo Equestor (Equestrians) and perhaps was one of the Curiales (regional senators) of Capua.
The Latin word for archer is Sagittarius. Many of the first rebels, such as Mira were taught archery by Lucius Caelius.
- Venator is the Latin word for hunter, which was how Lucius Caelius supported himself for years after his family perished Sulla's purges.
Lucius is one of the only Romans to become a true ally to Spartacus and the first to join the rebels; the others being Varro, Aurelia, Attius, and Laeta.

Quotes[]

"'The Gods finally fuck me to the afterlife... care to join me?"

"You are Spartacus?" "I am." "Then I mistake fucking for blessing!"

"A few men with bows would give the Romans pause long enough to make use of it, if walkway were built. How many among you shoot with purpose?" "There is not much call for arrows in the arena." "You no longer fight upon the sands, nor can you forge a sword from a fucking tree."

"With practice, you will be like the goddess Diana, striking enemies from afar."

"A fine shot!"

"And what of my own wife, my children, my brothers and sisters all slaughtered in the name of Rome? Is it within your power to return them to me too, you fucking cunt! Lay a hand on me and your wife dies!"

"At least it's not a fucking Roman that takes-" (is killed by The Egyptian).