Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is the second installment in the Spartacus series, and the six episode prequel to Blood and Sand. It premiered on January 21, 2011 on Starz. As season two had to be delayed due to Andy Whitfield's treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a prequel to the series was planned to fill in the time until September, when season two was scheduled to begin filming.^[1]It concluded on February 25, 2011.

The story centers around Batiatus and Lucretia and the rise of the House of Batiatus 5 years prior to Spartacus' arrival, seeing returns from many of the gladiators as well, including Doctore, Crixus and Barca amongst others.^[2] The show introduces the gladiator Gannicus, and his rise to fame under Batiatus' hand.

Synopsis[]

The House of Batiatus is on the rise, basking in the flow of its infamous champion Gannicus, whose skill with the sword is matched only by his thirst for wine and women. These are the times a young Batiatus has been waiting for. Poised to overthrow his father and take control, he'll freely betray anyone to ensure that his gladiators are in the highest demand. And by his side is his loyal and calculating wife Lucretia for every underhanded scheme, drawing on the brazen talents of her seductive friend Gaia when it counts. Together they will stop at nothing to deceive the masses, seize power and bleed Capua dry in this audacious prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

Cast and Characters[]

John Hannah as Quintus Lentulus Batiatus - a Roman Lanista who is trying to make his mark on the world through the gladiatorial games.
Lucy Lawless as Lucretia – Domina of the house and Quintus' wife. She has an undying love for her husband and will do anything to see him succeed.
Jaime Murray as Gaia – a Roman social climber and Lucretia's childhood friend.
Peter Mensah as Oenomaus/Doctore – a Numidian gladiator who later becomes the House of Batiatus' Doctore (gladiator trainer).
Dustin Clare as Gannicus – a Celtic gladiator of the House of Batiatus and rising star in the world of gladiators.
Marisa Ramirez as Melitta – Lucretia's personal slave and the wife of Oenomaus.
Manu Bennett as Crixus – a Gaul trainee gladiator with the burning desire to become the greatest champion in the world of gladiators.
Nick Tarabay as Ashur – a Syrian trainee gladiator who hopes to rise as a famous gladiator.

Craig Walsh-Wrightson as Marcus Decius Solonius – Batiatus' close friend and fellow Lanista.

Stephen Lovatt as Tullius – Quintus' business rival who stands in his way of climbing up the social heirarchy. He funds the construction of the Ampitheatre of Capua.

Gareth Williams as Vettius – Tullius' young henchman and Lanista of a rival ludus to both Quintus and Solonius.

Jeffrey Thomas as Titus Batiatus – Quintus Batiatus' father and owner of the family's ludus.

Lesley-Ann Brandt as Naevia – a slave girl within the ludus who tends to Lucretia.

Jessica Grace Smith as Diona – a slave girl within the ludus and childhood friend of Naevia.

Antonio Te Maioha as Barca – a veteran gladiator in the House of Batiatus who is famously known as "The Beast of Carthage".

Shane Rangi as Dagan – a Syrian trainee gladiator and Ashur's friend.

Raicho Vasilev as Gnaeus – a Dacian and minor gladiator in the House of Batiatus who later rises in skill and prominence after changing his fighting style.

Josef Brown as Auctus – a Greek veteran gladiator in the House of Batiatus. He is also the lover of Barca.

Temuera Morrison as Doctore – Oenomaus' predecessor as the House of Batiatus' gladiator trainer.

Vincent Roxburgh as Duratius – an Egyptian gladiator in the House of Batiatus

Ioane King as Rhaskos – a Gaul gladiator in the House of Batiatus.

Steven A. Davis as Indus – a Macedonian trainee gladiator. He is also friends with Ashur and Dagan.

David Austin as Medicus – the ludus' resident doctor.

Andrew Laing as Sextus – the Roman magistrate of Capua and friend of Tullius.

Peter Feeney as Quinctilius Varus – a Senator of Rome who, despite his position, has a promiscuous mindset.

Jason Hood as Cossutius – a Roman noble from Rome who is both immoral and sadistic.

Joel Oliver as Caburus - a viscious and powerful gladiator from east of the Rhine. He serves as the Champion of the House of Vettius.

Winham Hammond as Otho - a German gladiator of moderate skill and rival of Gannicus.

Des Wallace as Appius – a Roman slaver in the employ of Tullius.

David E. Woodley as Petronius – a Roman merchant from Rome and friend of Quinctilius Varus.

Graham Vincent as Pollux – a Numidian gladiator in the House of Batiatus.

Renato Gomez as Lydon – a Hispanic gladiator in the House of Batiatus.

Nathan O'Hearn as Fulco – a Celtic gladiator in the House of Batiatus

Jade Haigh as Plenus – a Greek gladiator in the House of Batiatus

Fortune Shumba as Ortius – a Numidian gladiator in the House of Batiatus.

Levi Holley as Leviticus – a Judean gladiator in the House of Batiatus.

James Cook as Narto – a Roman gladiator in the House of Batiatus.

Sam Bluemel as Gaia's Slave – Gaia's personal body slave.

Historical context[]

Unlike the rest of the series, Gods of the Arena is almost entirely fictional other than characters such as Batiatus, Gannicus and Crixus. It is unknown how Crixus ended up as a Gladiator in Batiatus' ludus, and it is unlikely that Gannicus (a later known leader in Spartacus' revolt) was a champion Gladiator. The opening of Capua's Arena is inaccurate as a Gladiatorial arena this size wouldn't be constructed until around 100 AD, with the smaller Arena in Capua being more accurate.