Spartacus, a Thracian slave turned gladiator in the 1st century BC, led a slave rebellion.
His wife was a priestess, adding a religious dimension to the uprising, similar to Sicilian slave rebellions.
Gladiatorial training provided the rebels with coherence, weapons, and a hierarchical structure.
After escaping the training camp with basic weapons, they armed themselves further from an armory.
Spartacus aimed to return home, winning initial victories against Roman forces before being ultimately defeated.
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Was Rome a slave society? Did Caesar really take a million Gauls captive? And what is the real story of Spartacus? Listen as William and Anita are joined by Mary Beard to discuss slavery in Ancient Rome.