Legends of the Ancient World: The Life and Legacy of Spartacus - Paperback

by Charles River (Author)

*Includes accounts of Spartacus and the Third Servile War written by ancient historians Plutarch, Sallust, Appian, Osorius, and Florus.
*Includes pictures of historic art depicting Spartacus and important people, places, and events in his life.
*Includes a Bibliography for further reading.
" Spartacus] was a Thracian from the nomadic tribes and not only had a great spirit and great physical strength, but was, much more than one would expect from his condition, most intelligent and cultured, being more like a Greek than a Thracian. They say that when he was first taken to Rome to be sold, a snake was seen coiled round his head while he was asleep and his wife, who came from the same tribe and was a prophetess subject to possession by the frenzy of Dionysus, declared that this sign meant that he would have a great and terrible power which would end in misfortune..." - Plutarch, Life of Crassus
Spartacus is the world's most famous slave, and one of the most notorious figures of Ancient Rome. A slave enamored of freedom and willing to fight and die for it, he became especially popular in the years following the Enlightenment, after which he was widely viewed as a poignant champion of liberty in the 18th and 19th centuries. As a result, he became a symbol during struggles like the French Revolution, the American Revolution, the American Civil War and the struggle for emancipation.
Today, his dual life as a gladiator and a "freedom fighter" makes him fascinating to audiences around the world. His tale, a blend of violent spectacle and civil rights, has been adapted for film (Stanley Kubrick's memorable Spartacus), television (Starz's popular television series), and in literature (appearing in everything from historical novels to comics). To this day, Spartacus (Spartaco) is a popular first name in central and southern Italy, and his name has been adopted by sports teams like FC Spartak Moscow and FC Spartak Plovdiv. The Soviet Union's internal version of the Olympics, the Spartakiad, also derived its name from Spartacus.
The reason for Spartacus's enduring appeal is obvious. Firstly, he was a gladiator, a profession so violently spectacular that to this days it remains one of the most popular and fascinating aspects of ancient Rome - as testified by the popularity of such productions as Gladiator and the endless queues of tourist outside the ruins of the Colosseum. Secondly, he was a man who, at least on the surface, fought for freedom - not just his but that of every slave in his region of Italy - and he did so almost two millennia before slavery was officially abolished in the United States.
Legends of the Ancient World: The Life and Legacy of Spartacus chronicles the life, legends, and legacy of the Roman slave and rebel, examining the historical record and what is known and unknown about the man. Along with pictures depicting important people and places, as well as a bibliography and Table of Contents, you will learn about Spartacus like you never have before, in no time at all.