Spartacus

Season 1

1. The Red Serpent

In the series premiere, in 73 B.C., a nameless Thracian warrior and his fellow fighters align themselves with legate Gaius Claudius Glaber and Rome to protect their homeland. But disenchantment with the Romans soon sets in when their allies' strategies leave their homeland unprotected from Getae marauders. The warrior leads a rebellion of the auxiliary troops against the Roman officers, then deserts to return to his village and his wife. He arrives as the Getae attack and reunites with his wife, who tells him that she had a vision of him "falling before a red serpent." He and his wife manage to escape, only to be captured by Glaber the next day. The warrior's wife, Sura, is forced into slavery and he and the other deserters are shipped to the arena in Capua, to be put to death publicly by gladiators. However, he proves his worth by defeating all four opponents, and is given a new name, Spartacus.

2. Sacramentum Gladiatorum

The newly enslaved Thracian warrior Spartacus enters the ludus of Lentulus Batiatus to receive gladiator training and discipline. He soon manages to make an enemy of the undefeated Gallic champion of Capua, Crixus, and the attention of whip-wielding taskmaster Doctore who uses harsh methods to test the new novices. He also meets Varro, a Roman gladiator by bankruptcy, who becomes his friend. The crafty but cash-strapped Batiatus fails to impress Glaber and so makes Spartacus, his new slave, an offer: if he cooperates and trains as a prized gladiator, he will use his power to help locate his wife. Consequently Spartacus trains to face the test to be a gladiator, and throws Crixus from the platform and wins. Afterwards, the victorious Spartacus swears the sacramentum of the gladiator brotherhood.

3. Legends

As the gladiators prepare for the series of fights that will be the highlight of the upcoming Vulcanalia festival, Spartacus cleverly manoeuvres to secure the right to battle Crixus, the unbeaten champion of Capua, in the primus or final battle. Despite his wife Lucretia's objections, Batiatus reminds her that Spartacus' bravery and previous exploits have "struck a chord with the public's interest". Meanwhile, Lucretia schemes to win favor with the wife of Gaius Claudius Glaber, the crafty and devious Ilithyia. At a pre-fight banquet, she interests her in the desirous Crixus, although he is secretly enamoured of Naevia, one of the domestic slaves. At the Vulcanalia, Spartacus embarrasses his owners publicly, both by beginning to fight too early, and by surrendering instead of dying.

4. The Thing In the Pit

Spartacus' disgrace at surrendering to Crixus in the arena leads Batiatus to punish him by demoting the Thracian to fight in the "pits of the underworld," a hellish, vicious subterranean battle arena where the crowds are frenzied and anything goes. When Naevia seemingly rejects Crixus' necklace gift, he initially misunderstands the reason for her refusal, and continues his secretive sexual relationship with Batiatus' wife. Meanwhile, the drought and Batiatus' money problems continue, and Lucretia ends up selling her new emerald necklace at a loss in the markets. Spartacus somehow survives the pits, and despite losing Batiatus' winnings, he regains the favour of his dominus after helping to foil an assassination attempt by two slaves, and is restored again to gladiator status.

5. Shadow Games

As the summer heat continues, enemies Spartacus and Crixus are commanded to take on an unbeaten champion named Theokoles, the "shadow of death". Doctore, being the only warrior to have fought Theokoles and lived, is charged with preparing the two men for the drought-breaking primus, but receives little satisfaction from either man. Spartacus tries to find common ground with his arch-enemy but Crixus remains stalwartly opposed to sharing any of the glory. Meanwhile, after the visit of a fertility priestess, Lucretia is denied a chance to conceive as Crixus, distracted by Naevia, declines her advances. Meanwhile, the wounded Batiatus continues his own investigations into the attempt on his life, and exacts blood vengeance on Ovidius, the cousin of Magistrate Calavius, and his family. In the arena, Theokoles is finally bested by Spartacus and the drought breaks once Theokoles dies, earning Spartacus the titles of "Slayer of Theokoles" and "Bringer of Rain". However, Crixus is critically wounded in the encounter and is taken away to recover.

6. Delicate Things

As the rains fall, both Barca and Spartacus envision a future away from the ludus. Barca expects to purchase his and Pietros' freedom, while Spartacus dreams of escaping with his enslaved wife, Sura. Crixus, barely alive after the near-fatal fight with Theokoles, is now in a drugged sleep. As part of his promotion to new Capuan champion, Spartacus tries on new armour, and during a private lesson with the Magistrate's son, Numerius, he steals a dagger for the escape. Spartacus also uses some of his winnings to buy wine and women for the gladiators, to further aid the escape plan. Meanwhile, Batiatus is troubled by false news that Ovidius' son still lives, and Ashur uses the chance to have Barca killed to avoid repaying the winnings owed to him. In the end Batiatus keeps his word of retrieving Sura, but her reunion with Spartacus is short lived as she quickly dies from wounds sustained in a "bandit attack".

7. Great and Unfortunate Things

Spartacus' world is changed by the death of his wife and he finds himself at a crossroads. In the absence of Barca, Pietros struggles without a protector and is unable to deal with the brutal attentions of Gnaeus. Meanwhile, Varro is visited by his wife and son and receives unwelcome news that she too, without her protector, has also been raped. Amidst the deceit of the household, Doctore seeks the truth behind Barca's sudden departure from the ludus. Pietros, now without hope, hangs himself – and Spartacus avenges him by throwing Gnaeus off the cliff to his death. Spartacus, again at odds with Batiatus, is forced to repay Gnaeus' death from his winnings. After returning the stolen dagger, he decides to focus on his new gladiatorial life. In the arena, while dressed as a Roman consul, he fights six criminals dressed as Thracians, and trusting himself to his wife's gods, he begins to purge his past. He kills the criminals, and to the cheering crowd victoriously proclaims "I am Spartacus!".

8. Mark of the Brotherhood

Spartacus continues his reign as the Champion of Capua at rival Solonius' expense, while Crixus struggles to recover and return to training. After comments made by Ashur, Batiatus begins to explore the possibility of selling the Gaul to a rival ludus in Damascus. Meanwhile, Batiatus acquires six new recruits for 100 denarii, and Ilithyia chooses to sponsor one, a Gaul named Segovax, in order to both defy her husband and impress her socialite friends. After a slight to her husband's honour by Spartacus at a private party, she implies to the recruit that she will set him free in exchange for his help. Crixus, after working to regain Lucretia's sexual favour, interrupts Segovax's attempt to strangle Spartacus. Crixus and Spartacus, both wounded in the fight, begin to renew a sense of brotherhood with each other. Ilithyia, on a return visit, arrives in time to both witness her sponsored slave's crucifixion and deny any knowledge of the reasons behind the attack.

9. Whore

Licinia, a rich noblewoman and cousin of senator Marcus Crassus, visits from Rome and asks Lucretia to "taste the wares of ludus " with Spartacus. Lucretia, mindful that Spartacus had not been with a woman since his capture, instructs a female slave named Mira to prepare him for his encounter, but Spartacus rejects her. Ilithyia, suspecting her rich friend's desires, also decides on a masked sexual encounter. Jealously enraged by her choice of Crixus (who has recently resumed training), Lucretia sets up to have Ilithyia discovered in bed by Licinia. Shocked after it is revealed that both intended to use the scandal against her, Ilythia suddenly kills Licinia. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the ludus, Batiatus' plan to kill Solonius is undermined by a slighted Ashur, Crixus makes enemies of two new German brothers Agron and Duro, Varro's wife and son have gone missing, and Naevia steals a guard's key for an illicit tryst.

10. Party Favors

Spartacus and Crixus are set up to fight in an exhibition match for Numerius' coming of age party, and Crixus sees a chance to resume his position. Batiatus, realising Spartacus' importance to his ambitions, invites him to play a board game called Latrunculi, but Lucretia jealously disapproves of the two men sharing wine. Meanwhile, Naevia has troubles with the guard she stole the key from, and risks all to share time with Crixus. At the party a now revived Ilithyia, still haunted by memories of the murder, seduces Numerius and has him switch Spartacus's opponent to Varro and demand his death at the end of what was supposed to be an exhibition match, forcing Spartacus to reluctantly kill his only friend. Later that night, after Batiatus' interest in politics is dismissed by Calavius, he vows blood revenge for his fighter's death. Distraught with grief, Spartacus returns to his cell and vents his rage until Mira comes in to comfort him.

11. Old Wounds

Spartacus is continually haunted by the death of his friend and admits to Varro's wife, Aurelia, that he died by his sword. At the same time, Batiatus fakes another bandit raid and kidnaps Magistrate Calavius, holding him captive in the city sewers. Meanwhile, a festering wound from the fight with Varro weakens Spartacus, and while he recuperates with the help of the medicus and Mira, more visions of the dead haunt his feverish dreams. In the arena, Crixus reclaims some of his lost glory when he is needed in the primus against Pompeius' unbeaten champion, Pericles – a fight he narrowly wins. Later, in the infirmary, Spartacus throttles Aulus, Sura's killer (having noticed he had no actual wound as suffered in her attack), and learns that Batiatus ordered her death. Batiatus' scheming comes to fruition as he, with the cunning help of Ashur, is able to successfully entrap Solonius for Calavius' murder.

12. Revelations

In the arena, Crixus continues his winning streak, and Spartacus kills the condemned Solonius. Spartacus also plots vengeance, but is warned by Mira that any attack on the master risks the life of all slaves. When finally granted an audience with Batiatus, he stays his hand when he notices Varro's widow, Aurelia, now working as a debt-slave. The ludus later awaits the arrival of Ilithyia and her husband Claudius Glaber, and Batiatus ends up being irked by Glaber's bluntness, but also surprised by his wife's pregnancy. Meanwhile, Spartacus fights against Glaber's soldiers, and Ashur's vengeful scheming finally exposes the relationship between Crixus and Naevia, leading to a scene. When Glaber refuses to sponsor Batiatus, he and Lucretia desperately reveal Ilithyia's hand in Licinia's murder and Glaber is forced to acquiesce. In the end, Crixus is flogged while Naevia is sold – but before leaving, she tells Doctore the truth behind Barca's "freedom". Returning to his cell, Spartacus tells Agron and Duro that to escape from the Romans, they will "kill them all".

13. Kill Them All

In front of the Capuan elite assembled on the balcony of the ludus, Crixus and Spartacus fight to the death, a bout arranged by Batiatus for their sport. However, two days earlier, Spartacus endeavors to enlist the help of the rest of the gladiators to lead a revolt to destroy the house of Batiatus once and for all. Spartacus gains support from Mira, who is tasked with opening the gate, but Crixus resists in hopes of reuniting with Naevia. Steadfast in their respective causes, Spartacus and Crixus coming to a mutual understanding. Meanwhile, Doctore (whose real name is revealed to be Oenomaus ) confronts Batiatus about Barca's death and Ashur's hand in it. Later, during the duel, after learning he was given poison to ensure Spartacus' victory, Crixus finally joins the revolt. In the melee, Doctore initially stops Spartacus from killing Batiatus, but Crixus persuades him to join them just as Ilithyia escapes by having her husband's soldiers seal the villa doors. Duro is killed after saving Agron, Ashur escapes the carnage, and Crixus stabs Lucretia, killing their unborn child. Aurelia stabs Numerius to death in revenge for Varro, and Spartacus confronts and kills Batiatus. After the massacre, he vows to the surviving gladiators and house slaves that they will make Rome "tremble". Spartacus leads the gladiators and house slaves from the ludus.

Season 2

1. Fugitivus

In the weeks after their escape from the ludus, Spartacus and Crixus command and train their small troop of domestic slaves and gladiators, while making temporary accommodation in the sewers. Spartacus has thoughts only on vengeance against Glaber, while Crixus is motivated with finding his lost love Naevia. Glaber, now Praetor with the Roman Senate, is commanded by his father-in-law to return to Capua and put down Spartacus. Ilithyia, now pregnant, wants to stay in Rome, but Glaber demands she accompany him. Meanwhile, Crixus obtains information from a brothel owner to seek Naevia in the south. Spartacus sends Aurelia, wife of his late friend Varro, north to reunite her with her son. Glaber, Ilithyia and his soldiers return to Capua and take up residence in the ludus and are shocked to find Lucretia alive but seemingly insane and she remembers very little, to Ilithyia's relief. Elsewhere, Oenomaus (Doctore) remains estranged from Spartacus and Crixus and feels extremely guilty for helping destroy the House of Batiatus. He warns them of the strength of Glaber and the Romans. Crixus urges that they should all flee south as if they kill Glaber right now they will not be able to defeat the legions they will send due to their small numbers and lack of trained fighters. Spartacus goes on his own to kill Glaber in the town square, and discovers they have captured and mortally wounded Aurelia. Spartacus eventually breaks cover and engages Glaber and his soldiers in combat. Spartacus is assisted by Crixus and the Gladiators and they escape with Aurelia as well as kill or wound many Roman soldiers, but fail to kill Glaber who is only wounded on his left arm. Afterwards, Aurelia asks Spartacus to promise to stay away from her son before dying. Spartacus agrees with Crixus that they should march south to look for Naevia, as well as seek to free all slaves who come into their path.

2. A Place in This World

Spartacus and his band of Gladiators move south, and take an isolated villa owned by a wealthy Roman, who had Naevia for a short time before sending her further south. One of the slaves, a young male named Nasir, attempts to kill Spartacus in the night as he has lost his position due to Spartacus' actions. Spartacus chooses not to have Nasir killed, but decides to train him. Back in Capua, Lucretia is viewed as an Oracle due to her surviving Spartacus' massacre; in the marketplace Lucretia receives a note from a hooded stranger. Meanwhile, Oenomaus thinks back about his purchase from the Pits by Titus Lentulus Batiatus in his youth, where he eventually states his reason for living is the honor of Titus and his House. Oenomaus fights in the Pits hoping to be killed, but he is eventually taken to the villa before Glaber as Lucretia is performing a ritual to ask the Gods to aid Glaber against Spartacus. The hooded stranger is revealed to be Ashur, former nefarious right-hand man of Quintus Batiatus, who is working in secret with Lucretia.

3. The Greater Good

Spartacus and crew free another band of slaves being sent for the dreaded Mines. A slaver with his dying breath tells Agron and Nasir that Naevia lives but is working the Mines. Agron, who believes an attempt to free Naevia would result in the death of all the Rebels, lies and tells Crixus that Naevia is dead. In Capua, Ashur tortures Oenomaus to get information on Spartacus and his men unsuccessfully. Lucretia tells Ashur to use other means to get Oenomaus to speak. Ashur reveals to Oenomaus his wife Melitta's affair with his closest friend Gannicus (see Spartacus: Gods of the Arena ). Oenomaus in his disbelief inadvertently reveals the rebels' purpose of going south in search of Naevia. Glaber, focused on holding his status, neglects his wife Ilithyia. Meanwhile, Nasir can no longer bring himself to maintain Agron's lie and tells Crixus the truth. Agron takes his own group to make camp at Mt. Vesuvius. Spartacus, Crixus, and the others that remain go to the mines. Disguising themselves as slaves and guards, they infiltrate the mines in search of Naevia. However, Glaber had dispatched his soldiers to the mines, along with Ashur, and they arrive shortly afterward. After Ashur recognizes and slaughters two of Spartacus' men posing as guards, the soldiers enter the mines in pursuit. Crixus is briefly reunited with Naevia, but as they attempt to make their way out, the soldiers catch up with them. Crixus battles the soldiers so Naevia and the rebels can escape; Crixus fights courageously but is ultimately overwhelmed, with Ashur delivering the final blows which knock Crixus out cold.

4. Empty Hands

Very few rebels escape the rescue mission from the Mines alive. Spartacus will suffer to leave no one behind even if it means the death of them all. The Romans led by Glaber's Tribune Marcus are in hot pursuit, assisted by Ashur. The captured Crixus and two others are reunited with Oenomaus at the villa, where treachery abounds. Meanwhile, Glaber must ease the insult he gave to Varinius, a fellow Praetor; Ilithyia suggests a party in his honor. Young Seppia seeks advice from Lucretia on seeking her future husband and sets her sights on Varinius, much to Ilithyia's envy. Ilithyia, angered by the neglect of Glaber, forms a plan to have her marriage dissolved and take Varinius as her new husband. Crixus and Oenomaus are to be executed in the arena while another is tortured to death at the hands of the party goers. Spartacus' numbers dwindle in the forest as they are killed one by one by the pursuing Romans. By the final fight only Spartacus, Mira, Naevia and the wounded Nasir are left alive. During a combat encounter, Spartacus manages to wound Marcus. Marcus insists on persisting with pursuit, against the advice of Ashur. Ashur takes Marcus further into the forest, only to finish him off before Marcus can order his troops to continue hunting Spartacus. Back in Capua, Ilithyia outshines Seppia, who was unable to participate in the torture of the prisoner, and brokers a deal with Varinius for marriage if Senator Albinius (Ilithyia's father) dissolves her marriage. Ilithyia seeks out her father among the party only to find him in bed with Lucretia. Furious, Ilithyia attacks Lucretia, but Lucretia reveals she did it only to heal past wrongs she had done to Ilithyia and help her seek her future as Varinius' wife. Ilithyia, on hearing this, manages to stay her hand. Spartacus and Mira now stand as one as they see a horde of strangers approach in the sun's early light ready for a fight to the death, only to find it is Agron and the rest of the Rebels come to aid them.

5. Libertus

A plan is hatched and brothers are reunited upon the sands in this episode. While searching a temple with a view to spend the night, Spartacus encounters Lucius, a Roman disillusioned with Rome because of the civil war Sulla waged years before. Lucius gives shelter and information to the Rebels, mainly that the rumors that abound are that Spartacus and the Rebels are finished and all but slaughtered. He informs Spartacus that three of the rebels will be executed in the arena and that one of them is Crixus. Spartacus, unwilling to forsake Crixus and wanting to send a message to the Romans, hatches a daring plan of rescue, where they will move in and take the arena in Capua. Meanwhile, Gannicus returns to Capua to give Oenomaus an honorable death in the arena, but unaware Oenomaus knows the truth of Gannicus' affair with Melitta. Elsewhere, Lucretia dissuades Ilithyia from aborting her child, though Ilithyia must be rid of the pregnancy if she will marry Varinius. However, Lucretia manages to convince Ilithyia to delay the abortion. Lucretia, through Ashur, reveals the abortion attempt to Glaber. Ilithyia admits upon confrontation that their love and marriage is over and reveals her plan to marry Varinius to Glaber. When the primus fight starts, Oenomaus viciously attacks Gannicus and Mira is tasked to set the arena on fire on its foundations. When the arena finally collapses and most of the spectators flee, Spartacus and Agron attack the remaining gladiators and guards and escape with Gannicus, Crixus and Oenomaus, but not before Spartacus throws a spear directly at Glaber and nicks his cheek. Glaber, the last to leave the pulvinus, chances upon Senator Albinius (Ilithyia's father) trapped beneath a fallen beam, but he does not save his father-in-law, instead killing him. Glaber finds Ilithyia and lies by telling her her father was killed by Spartacus and that they will remain married.

6. Chosen Path

With the injured Oenomaus and Crixus rescued, the group returns to the fallen temple to regroup and re organize. Meanwhile, Glaber tests Ashur's loyalty, and through the passing of this test Ashur's status and pride is elevated, filled with his own sense of self-importance. Lucretia attempts to bring him to heel, but her efforts backfire as Ashur rapes her. Glaber, still angry and feeling the sting of betrayal, treats Ilithyia cruelly, in where she seeks casual comfort with Lucretia and schemes to win back Glaber's love. Glaber attempts to join forces with Seppius and his group of mercenaries, but is rebuffed yet again, resulting in the young Seppia being invited to the villa instead. Elsewhere, Gannicus scoffs at Spartacus and the rebels, feeling that they are fighting for a lost cause. Naevia, being haunted by her ordeal, is unable to show her love physically to Crixus, while he is unable to forgive Agron for lying about Naevia's death. Spartacus attempts to enlist Gannicus to the cause but Gannicus remains unconvinced. Lucius, the disillusioned Roman, seeks to aid in training the rebels who were once house slaves. Chadara would rather seek her place in the bed of another gladiator but is rebuffed. Also, Ashur is sent to recruit the most violent of former gladiators for Glaber's new plan. Oenomaus awakens and tells Gannicus that they were once brothers and the betrayal with Melitta is not easily forgotten or forgiven. The map on which Spartacus and Agron make their plans vanishes along with the last bit of money the rebels have. Gannicus is accused and a fight ensues between the former champions of Batiatus. The fight comes to a draw as Mira draws an arrow from her bow and shoots down Chadara who was attempting to flee with map and missing coins in hand. Gannicus also takes his leave. Back in Capua, Seppia, after some coaxing from Ilithyia, Lucretia and Glaber, agrees to speak with her brother, but to no avail since Glaber has already moved against Seppius. Along with Ashur's new recruits, Glaber slaughters Seppius and every other living being in the villa. Glaber takes his time delivering the final death blow to Seppius by stepping on his windpipe. Ashur then picks up Seppius' gold twin snake armlet with the intent on keeping it for himself. Glaber then blames the slaughter on Seppius' house slaves and claims they escaped to join the rebels cause.

7. Sacramentum

In the port city of Neapolis, Spartacus, Agron, and Lucius pose as rich Romans interested in buying a new shipment of slaves, all of whom hail from the Germanic tribes of the north. Complications arise when Agron speaks to the slaves in their mother tongue and is overheard by a Roman guard who also shares their tongue and raises the alarm, but the operation succeeds despite this and the rebel army swells with Agron's distant kin. This alarms Crixus and Lucius, given the possibility that these new recruits may not follow Spartacus' orders in favor of Agron. Meanwhile in Capua, Glaber enlists the former mercenary band that belonged to young Seppius, and they pledge the Sacramentum to Glaber and to Rome. After Ashur raping Lucretia again, he believes she is beginning to have romantic feelings for him and he presents her with a red wig like she used to wear as a symbol of her belonging to him. Ganniucus, prompted by Ashur, goes to the villa for an audience with Glaber, where he offers Gannicus the chance to be a beacon of hope, the front man to his army. Glaber also returns Gannicus' rudus. Ilithyia, growing ever more desperate that Glaber will never forgive her, wishes she were dead. Lucretia however comes up with a plan for Ilithyia to break free of Glaber's hatred and vengeful attitude and go home to Rome. The plan involves Lucretia fooling Glaber into thinking Ilithyia needs to go to Rome in order for the gods to bless their unborn child. After a failed attempt to bond with the new recruits on a hunting trip, which turns into highway robbery as the new recruits accost a wagon on the road, Spartacus, Crixus, and Lucius wonder whether Agron's loyalty lies with his kinsmen or with Spartacus. A great feast turns into a bloody battle after Seddulus, the biggest of all the new recruits tries to rape Naevia, after which Naevia stabs him and calls for help. Agron decides this has gone too far and helps Crixus and Spartacus control the German. Spartacus, asserting his authority as leader, fights Seddulus and brutally kills him. After witnessing the gruesome scene, Agron's tribesmen swear allegiance to Spartacus. Lucretia and Gannicus meet in the market, where Gannicus mourns for his friend from the brothel who is now crucified for merely whispering about Spartacus' fight for freedom for all. Lucretia tempts Gannicus with a plan to kill Glaber and end this conflict. Ilithyia is packed off to Rome, but not before Lucretia reveals the plan to her. Ilithyia kisses Glaber goodbye. No more than a few hours in her absence Glaber has sex with Seppia, when unfortunate news reaches him that Ilithyia's wagon was viciously attacked on the road to Rome. All that is in the wagon is one of Ashur's henchmen with Gannicus' rudus sticking out of his neck. Ashur states Gannicus has made his choice.

8. Balance

Gannicus leads the captive Ilithyia to the rebel camp. Ilithyia, pleading for her life and the life of her unborn child, reveals to Spartacus that the child she carries is not Glaber's, but his own child, conceived the night that Lucretia tricked her into laying with Spartacus. Ilithyia tries to convince Lucius to send word to Capua of her whereabouts, however, Spartacus enlists him to deliver a message to Glaber. Mira, moved by jealousy, attempts to save Spartacus the burden of killing Ilithyia, but is stopped short. Meanwhile, Glaber and Ashur scour the town for clues about where Gannicus has taken Ilithyia, laying waste to every brothel, with Ashur collecting goods from every corpse. Lucretia tries to bring to bare with Seppia but gets nowhere, and turning to Ashur for help. But Lucretia notices while being raped that among Ashur's horde of jewels and gold is dead Seppius' gold twin snake armlet. About to confront Seppia with the news of Glaber being responsible for her brother's death, they are interrupted by Lucius and his message from Spartacus. The message is that in exchange for a wagon filled with arms and armor, the Rebels will release Ilithyia. Glaber appears to agree to the terms. At the agreed time and place, Glaber meets Spartacus with the wagon. After a heated exchange of words by hero and villain, treachery is revealed and the wagon is filled with Ashur and his mercenary band, including a burly and lethal Egyptian warrior, and an all-out battle occurs. Lucius is killed, but Spartacus and most of his men escape, and Glaber returns to Capua without Ilithyia. Lucretia finally reveals the depth of Glaber's vengeance and murderous deeds to Seppia. At the end, Spartacus releases Ilithyia in the woods after revealing to her that Glaber had no intention of saving her.

9. Monsters

Spartacus finds anger, resentment and mistrust in his ranks and must see old wounds healed if the Rebels are to stand against the might of Rome. Ilithyia returns home to find Seppia (although unwilling) in the arms of Glaber. From Ilithyia's information on the Rebels' location, Ashur pinpoints the site of their temple base, and as reward he is promised his freedom after the defeat of Spartacus. Ilithyia and Glaber also have a heart-to-heart talk, and Ilithyia finds Glaber not moved from her miraculous survival. However, Lucretia is quite happy and tells Ilithyia of the latest happenings and of Glaber's murder of Seppius, and Ilithyia and Lucretia set young Seppia on a path of vengeance. Meanwhile, rounds of friendly bouts to end current grievances are set up by Spartacus, as old insults and past wrongs are put right in these friendly battles. Ashur reveals to Lucretia that as well as freedom, Glaber will give Ashur the ludus and his blessing of marriage with Lucretia if Spartacus falls in the upcoming battle. Lucretia is quite dismayed at the loss of her husband's legacy. Varinius returns to Capua (at the secret bidding of Seppia) with directions from the Senate that Glaber is to leave Capua and return to Rome. Varinius is rebuffed by Glaber, and warns of further ruin if Glaber does not obey. Varinius is angered at Seppia's lack of strong evidence of Glaber's wrongdoings and murderous deeds. Lucretia gives a final pep talk to convince Seppia to make attempt on Glaber's life. At the final moment before Seppia's dagger is thrust into Glaber, Ilithyia, from behind, grabs Seppia's dagger, stabs Seppia in her heart and proceeds to violently slit her throat. Glaber and Ilithyia come to a mutual understanding about their marriage, as Ilithyia fuels passion with ambitious talk of power that they both must seek to acquire. The Roman attack on the Rebel temple goes forward, Varinius' and Glaber's forces in attendance. Spartacus and Gannicus capture Varinius in the first assault, catching him unaware in the forest. In the temple forecourt, whoever mostly remained of Varinius' frontal assault lay dead, but then huge fire projectiles are hurled into the temple. Varinius is hit by a projectile and is killed. Glaber, his men and Ashur storm the temple. Overrun, Spartacus and the rebels use their escape tunnels to leave, but not before Oenomaus loses his left eye while fighting the fierce Egyptian mercenary and losses of at least half of the Rebels. Cutting Glaber off from pursuit, the Rebels exit the tunnels only to have their retreat cut off by the rest of Glaber's forces. With no other path that does not lead to certain death, the Rebels take to the steep mountain paths of Mt. Vesuvius. Glaber halts further pursuit and decides to besiege the mountain, hoping to force the rebels to come out in the open, driven by hunger and thirst. Glaber states that Spartacus and his followers will die.

10. Wrath of the Gods

Spartacus and most of his followers stand on the mountain paths of the lower slopes of Mt. Vesuvius pondering their next move. Some of his followers attempt to ambush several Roman soldiers guarding the mountain, including Ashur and the Egyptian mercenary. The ambush fails but some of the rebels, led by Spartacus, arrive to save their companions and a battle breaks out. Mira is killed by an axe meant for Spartacus. Meanwhile, Lucretia and a pregnant Ilithyia travel to Mt. Vesuvius where Ilithyia has a conversation with Glaber that convinces him that Ashur was working with Seppia to kill him, and suggest that he get rid of Ashur. Glaber agrees with her and in return asks Ilithyia to murder Lucretia because her role as oracle serves no purpose anymore, and this task will win his trust. Glaber bribes Ashur's soldiers to betray the troublesome Ashur and then forces him to go on a suicide mission to prove himself, confronting Spartacus and his followers alone and bargaining for their surrender. Ashur's offer is declined when he reveals that Spartacus will be killed upon surrender and his followers would once again become slaves. Ashur begins to depart when Crixus suggests that they execute him. Spartacus agrees with this and Naevia convinces Crixus to allow her to fight him. After a protracted duel, Naevia decapitates Ashur. Spartacus comes up with a plan to ambush the Roman encampment. They weave rappelling vines and Spartacus, Agron, Crixus, and Gannicus descend down the mountain behind the Roman guards. At the bottom of their descent, they take control of the siege weapons to set fire to the camp and leave the legion in disarray. The rest of the rebels join in the battle, attacking from the side. Meanwhile, before Ilithyia is able to push Lucretia from the ludus' balcony her water breaks. At first Lucretia is pretending to help Ilithyia deliver her baby but after killing Ilithyia's slaves, Lucretia cuts Ilithyia's newborn son from her womb and commits suicide by jumping off the ludus' cliff with the baby in her arms. Ilithyia, witnessing all this, collapses and dies from shock and loss of blood. The battle between Glaber's forces and the rebels rages on and Oenomaus and Gannicus battle the Egyptian gladiator. Gannicus manages to kill the Egyptian mercenary but Oenomaus is fatally wounded and dies in Gannicus's arms. Spartacus has a one-on-one sword fight with Glaber. When Spartacus wounds and bests his rival, Glaber defiantly boasts that his death and the destruction of his legion will bring many more legions of Roman soldiers after them and the rebels will never win in the long run. In equal defiant response, Spartacus shoves his sword down Glaber's throat, killing him. Spartacus and the surviving rebels proceed to celebrate their victory.

Season 3

1. Enemies of Rome

It has been nearly one year since the slave rebellion started (which is known as the Third Servile War ). Spartacus and his followers defeat several Roman armies in their quest to "Make Rome Tremble." Spartacus tells his top commanders, Crixus, Agron and Gannicus, that they need to find a city for their followers to use as their base of operations by pointing out that hiding from the Roman armies will be hard in the upcoming winter season. Roman commanders Furius and Cossinius are getting frustrated about their lack of progress in defeating the rebels. Spartacus and a trusted band sneak up to the commanders' hideout villa to slay both of them. In Rome, after hearing of this latest defeat, the Roman Senate fears Rome itself may be endangered but lacks funds and men to mount a suitably large army. Senator Metellus turns to the immensely rich, ambitious businessman Marcus Crassus, who accepts the offer to raise a new army to put down the slave rebellion. Crassus's eager teenage son Tiberius is frustrated when learning of this because his father accepted without negotiating an accordingly exalted status or mandate, and continuous private sparring with a dearly paid skilled gladiator named Hilarus, whom he ends up killing in a fair duel. Spartacus's victory by killing Furius and Cossinius unwittingly plays into Crassus's hand, as he now formally "inherits" sole command of the Roman Army. It is later revealed that Crassus indirectly and surreptitiously provided Spartacus with the whereabouts of Furius and Cossinius, so as to have the rebel leader for himself.

2. Wolves at the Gate

Spartacus and his followers plan to take control of the walled, coastal city of Sinuessa, with a little help from a runaway local slave named Diotimos who inspires Spartacus's war council to choose a plan on how to take the city. Posing as a wealthy merchant, Spartacus, along with Crixus and Gannicus, scouts the city and is disgusted by the aedilis (magistrate) and Roman elite's cruelty to slaves. Spartacus circumvents the strict security measures by bribing blacksmith Attius and quickly starts a ruthless attack, which depends on his small party opening the gate from inside. Despite some complications, the tactic works and the slaves storm and capture the city after a fierce night-time battle. Although several of the rebels want to massacre all of the citizens of Sinuessa, Spartacus instead takes some of them prisoner. Meanwhile in Rome, Marcus Crassus completes preparing his legionary army just as Tiberius hopes his help will be rewarded with second rank, but fears being side-tracked in favor of the seasoned young Caius Julius Caesar. Caesar needs a rich, ambitious ally to pay his debts and finance his political campaign, but loses points with Crassus by cockily playing with his slave-lover, Kore, who unlike Crassus's wife, is invited to join the army's train.

3. Men of Honor

Crassus sends Tiberius ahead with instructions to observe the rebel-held city of Sinuessa and wait. The ruthless Caesar won't stand for being the "boy's deputy" and beheads the "cowardly" gate keeper who escaped and reports Spartacus took the city easily. Despite Spartacus's explicit instructions, surviving Roman citizens suffer excessive cruelty, especially at the hands of Crixus's traumatized Naevia, who even kills the blacksmith Attius. Laeta, who witnessed her husband Ennius murdered by Spartacus, continues to steal bread from the rebels' kitchens and give them to fellow Sinuessa citizens in hiding. A young freed slave, named Sibyl, shows an interest in Gannicus. When Cilician pirates arrive, Spartacus learns their captain Heracleo has a secret deal with the late aedilius Ennius to use his seal to sell their laundered loot at market prices. Heracleo offers an alliance and Spartacus agrees, mainly to buy urgently needed supplies. The suspicious leaders meet outside the city, but are observed by the impatient Tiberius, who decides to attack. The pirate fleet's artillery however makes the difference. Tiberius is critically wounded by one of the rebels and is saved by his best friend, who convinces Tiberius to retreat.

4. Decimation

As punishment for the unauthorized attack which resulted in the pointless deaths of many Roman soldiers, Crassus orders his son and the soldiers who participated in the attack to take place in decimation, where 10 Roman soldiers will be randomly picked from the 10 legions and executed for cowardice as a consequence of the failed attack. It ultimately leads to Tiberius being forced to participate in the execution of his best friend Sabinus. Although Sinuessa's food supplies are running out and Cilican pirate captain Heracleo can't promise enough (except wine) even at premium prices, Spartacus orders that new slaves be admitted, after screening for undercover Romans, a group of which fails to force the gate. Julius Caesar manages to pose as a escaped shepherd slave and wins the confidence of dishonest schemer Nemetes. As a result, Caesar discovers and fuels dissension in Spartacus's camp, yet causes only the slaughter of most Romans and doubt in Crixus's mind as to whether Spartacus should still be obeyed. After Spartacus saves Laeta from being killed, Crixus tells Naevia that they must form their own path in their rebellion.

5. Blood Brothers

Spartacus and Crixus have yet to work out their differences. Meanwhile, Tiberius seems bitter and broken, having had to beat Sabinus to death in the decimation, lashing out at the survivors. Crassus sends his mistress Kore to coax his heir with wine and tenderness, but Tiberius chooses to rape the "mere" slave by way of compensation. Senator Metellus is ignored when he arrives in the Roman camp and rudely inquires why the army hasn't moved on Sinuessa. In Sinuessa, Sibyl makes her move upon Gannicus, who returns the favor. Spartacus tests Crixus's patience to the breaking point by leaving him behind during raids on Crassus's food supplies in Sicily. After returning from the raid, Spartacus announces he's sailing on Heracleo's ships to Sicily and releases the last Roman civilians. While Crixus learns it's a diversion for a pincer movement on Crassus's camp, Caesar fuels the dissension and in-fighting among the rebels to the extreme before opening the gate with fellow undercover soldiers. Spartacus finds his maritime pincer leg sabotaged as the Cilician pirates have been sold out to Crassus. Agron, Saxa and Donar find themselves trapped in the city after finally learning of Caesar's true identity and that he helped the Roman soldiers gain entry into the city.

6. Spoils of War

As Crassus leads an all-out attack to retake the rebel-occupied city of Sinuessa, Gannicus stays behind to cover the retreat of Spartacus and the slaves into the mountains. However, Gannicus is forced to hide behind enemy lines with Sibyl while waiting for a chance to get away. Laeta is branded a slave for her cooperation with Spartacus. Crassus rewards Heracleo for his cooperation with gold and the 'traitor' Laeta. Gannicus then manages to kill the pirate captain and rescue Laeta, who is wounded during the escape. Meanwhile, Tiberius is tasked by Crassus to hold a celebration in honor of Caesar's victory and Caesar challenges one captured slave to a duel. Caesar also bribes Senator Metellus to share the looting of the whole city. Gannicus, Sibyl, and Laeta escape and rejoin the rebels' new camp on a remote and frigid mountain range.

7. Mors Indecepta

With the rebel forces trapped on an impassable, snowbound ridge, Spartacus and Crixus argue with each other over the method of escape. Crassus is confident the trench and palisade he had secretly built will contain Spartacus's army and successfully sets a trap by advancing his general's tent perilously close. To see his debts paid, Caesar accepts being relegated to lower command, while Tiberius is reinstated as Crassus's right hand general. Meanwhile, Kore conspires with Caesar to expose Tiberius's rape, but hearing her lover admit that his paternal pride will forgive any filial flaw, decides instead to defect to the rebel camp. There Spartacus overcomes Crixus's impatience, which peaks at a bloody brawl. A snow storm kills a thousand rebels, but their frozen bodies are used to bridge the trench, allowing the living to break free and escape again.

8. Separate Paths

As the spring season arrives, Spartacus and Crixus come to a crossroads in their quest, while a relentless Crassus forcefully drives his men in the pursuit of Spartacus, and the personal conflict between Tiberius and Caesar intensifies. Crixus and Spartacus decide to part ways: Crixus choosing to advance west to Rome (followed by Naevia and Agron), while Spartacus heads north to leave the country. While the rebels are celebrating after capturing another town, Laeta and Spartacus become closer. Tiberius, fearing being exposed, rapes Caesar with the aid of his men. Crixus and his followers defeat Rome's defences before being met by Crassus's troops. In the ensuing melee, Agron is wounded and Crixus and Caesar battle and Crixus is stabbed from behind by Tiberius. Crassus then orders Tiberius to decapitate him in front of Naevia as a message to the others.

9. The Dead and the Dying

Crixus's army has been completely wiped out. Crassus sends Naevia back to Spartacus's camp to inform him of Crixus's death. Agron is crucified by Caesar. Spartacus captures Tiberius with the indirect help of Caesar. A distressed Crassus sends Caesar to bargain with Spartacus to release Tiberius. Spartacus hosts gladiator games (using Tiberius and a few captured Romans as the gladiators) to honor Crixus. In the final part of the games, Naevia battles Tiberius and defeats him with his own sword. Naevia spares Tiberius, however, when Spartacus reveals that Crassus and Caesar have offered the return of 500 captured rebels in exchange for Tiberius. During the exchange, Caesar tells Tiberius that he intends to punish him for all of his injustices, but Kore stabs Tiberius from behind and kills him. Caesar takes an opportunity to return Kore to Crassus in an attempt to appease him, and the 500 captured rebels (which include a wounded Agron) are returned to Spartacus. Kore and Caesar return to Crassus where they inform him of Tiberius's death, but they do not reveal to him that his son's true killer was Kore. Spartacus tells his surviving rebels to prepare for a final stand in the names of all their friends and allies who have fallen along the way.

10. Victory

With discipline and morale among his followers breaking down, Spartacus turns his forces to face Crassus in a final (and futile) last stand against his legions, climaxing the slave revolt at the Battle of the Siler River. Prior to the battle, Spartacus meets privately with Crassus and the two come to a mutual understanding, but both agree to fight each other to the death on the battlefield. Inadvertendly, Spartacus also reveals to Crassus that Kore killed Tiberius, not him. Spartacus gives a final speech to his remaining rebels, and Nasir creates a sword that will allow his lover Agron to fight despite the critical crucifixion wounds he sustained in the previous episode. In the beginning of the battle, Spartacus and the rebels manage to kill several Romans, but Lugo is struck by a flaming projectile, and he curses the Romans around him before he dies. A Roman cavalryman kills Castus who dies without regret in Nasir and Agron's arms. Saxa is fatally wounded by several Romans and dies in Gannicus's arms after she kills the Romans who inflicted the wounds on her. Naevia and Caesar then battle, culminating in Caesar defeating her using Tiberius's sword, the same one used to behead Crixus. Caesar and Gannicus then have their battle. Gannicus manages to wound Caesar in their fight, but is surrounded and captured by Caesar's soldiers before he can finish him off. Spartacus kills a group of Roman soldiers along with their commander before finally engaging Crassus in a brutal sword battle. Spartacus manages to defeat Crassus after the two exchange severe blows, but is mortally wounded by three Roman soldiers who appear behind him and impale him with spears. Agron then arrives and kills the Romans who wounded Spartacus, then carries Spartacus away from the battlefield. Pompey arrives at the end of the battle and steals credit for defeating Spartacus. Gannicus and all of the rebel prisoners are crucified and he dies remembering his glory in the arena as the Champion of Capua. He also sees the spirit of Oenomaius, smiling as he awaits his old friend to join him in the afterlife. Crassus is forced to have Kore crucified next to Gannicus as she was known to have joined the rebels, although he forgives her for killing his son. The victorious Crassus, Caesar and Pompey return to Rome in triumph where seeds of a power struggle between all three of them begin to take form along with the plans for the First Triumvirate. Spartacus dies in Agron's arms after stating that despite losing the war, the greatest victory he has is to depart from this life a free man. In the final scene, Laeta, Sibyl and Nasir join Agron, one of the only remaining gladiators from the House of Batiatus (and the only surviving rebel general), with the 1000 survivors of the defeated rebel army march on towards the Roman border to start a new life in the country beyond the mountains. Spartacus, his true name having never been revealed, is buried in an unmarked grave which is marked by a shield with the fated Red Serpent upon it, fulfilling the prophecy his wife, Sura, made in the first episode. The series ends by showing the title character (as portrayed by Andy Whitfield) in the post-credits, covered in blood and standing victorious in the arena, proclaiming "I am Spartacus!"