Spartacus
Thracian slave leader
Spartacus was a Thracian gladiator who led a major slave rebellion against the Roman Republic from 73 to 71 BCE.
His army of escaped slaves grew to tens of thousands and defeated several Roman legions before being crushed by Crassus.
The name has become synonymous with resistance against oppression: a Spartacus of the modern labor movement.
The 1960 film popularized the scene where captured slaves each claim I am Spartacus to protect their leader—now invoked when people show solidarity by sharing blame or identity.
Organized resistance to power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- mutinyRevolt against authority
defiance · overthrow · escape · breakout · Vesuvius · guerrilla · insurgency · struggle
Italy's capital city
- ThraceHistorical Balkan territory
- ThracianAncient Balkan region native
- historicalOf documented times
- legionGreat number, or soldiers
Pompey · republic · consul · crucifixion · Italy · Sicily · antiquity · classical
Venue for contests
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- ColosseumFlavian arena in Rome
- gladiusRoman infantry blade
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
spectacle · scutum · munera · venatio · sand · crowd · thumbs-down
Involuntary subjugation to another
- servitudeCompulsory labor under masters
- chainsLinked metal restraints
- shacklesMetal bonds for prisoners
- manacleWrist restraint, usually paired
enslaved · thrall · captivity · oppression · subjugation · toil · labor · master
Courage in danger
- braveryBoldness before danger
- courageFortitude facing danger
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- legendaryFamous beyond ordinary measure
epic · noble · underdog · champion · martyrdom · sacrifice · icon · symbol
Person with authority over others
- strategistExpert in planning campaigns
- generalWidespread, not specialized
- tacticianSkilled planner of action
- chiefTop-ranking leader
rallying · charisma · inspiration · army · followers · lieutenant · united · organized
- filmMovie or coating
- StarzPremium cable network
- televisionBroadcast viewing device
- symbolRepresentational mark or sign
icon · inspiration · Marx · revolution · namesake · communist · proletariat · mythology
uprising
Organized resistance to power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
mutiny · defiance · overthrow · escape · breakout · Vesuvius · guerrilla · insurgency · struggle · dissent
Rome
Italy's capital city
- ThraceHistorical Balkan territory
- ThracianAncient Balkan region native
- historicalOf documented times
legion · Pompey · republic · consul · crucifixion · Italy · Sicily · antiquity · classical · BCE
arena
Venue for contests
training · spectacle · scutum · munera · venatio · sand · crowd · thumbs-down
bondage
Involuntary subjugation to another
- servitudeCompulsory labor under masters
- chainsLinked metal restraints
- shacklesMetal bonds for prisoners
manacle · enslaved · thrall · captivity · oppression · subjugation · toil · labor · master · auction
valor
Courage in danger
legendary · epic · noble · underdog · champion · martyrdom · sacrifice · icon · symbol · inspiration
commander
Person with authority over others
- strategistExpert in planning campaigns
- generalWidespread, not specialized
- tacticianSkilled planner of action
chief · rallying · charisma · inspiration · army · followers · lieutenant · united · organized · campaign
Kubrick
- filmMovie or coating
- StarzPremium cable network
- televisionBroadcast viewing device
symbol · icon · inspiration · Marx · revolution · namesake · communist · proletariat · mythology
- Roman FictionGladiator, Ben-Hur, Pompeii, Roma, Centurion
- Ancient RomeRome, Julius Caesar, Caesar, gladiator, gladiators
- ancient worldancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient Egypt, pyramids, pyramid
- Greek & RomanAchilles heel, Trojan horse, Pandora's box, Midas touch, Odyssey
- 60s CinemaDr. Strangelove, The Graduate, Easy Rider, Bonnie and Clyde, Lawrence of Arabia
- Classic FilmsCasablanca, Citizen Kane, Gone with the Wind, Some Like It Hot, Vertigo
Spartacusslaveholder
Owner of enslaved persons
slaveowner · patrician · Roman senator · Roman consul · Caesar
Spartacuspraetor
Roman judicial magistrate
loyalist · Roman consul · Roman general · suppressor · counter-revolutionary
Spartacusslave owner
Owner of enslaved persons
slaveholder · slave trader · plantation owner · oppressor · master