Accessing the image of Spartacus
Roman historical traditions have proven very hard to trace; and most historical documents always present different interpretations. One such example is the story of Spartacus; the most famous slave leader during the third Seville war which was a major slave rebellion against the Roman Empire. Very little information is known about Spartacus past the Seville war. [1]The slave revolts resulted into a larger conflict between the slaves and their owners. The existing historical data that is available always provide wrong and contradictory information and therefore cannot be relied on to account the history of Spartacus. Brent infers that investigating about Spartacus proves more difficult than examining his present day a symbol of resistance[2]; in order to have an in depth understanding on Spartacus, we have to examine the world which Spartacus and his fellow slaves lived in. although the different historical artifacts provide different information concerning Spartacus, all of them are centered to one point. They present Spartacus as the icon of the slave resistance during the slave wars of the Roman Empire[3]. Slave insurrection was a threat to the roman governing class during the times. Spartacus is always presented as the oppressed soldiers who were fighting primarily for their freedom against the slave trade; this has inspired many writers and motion picture directors since the onset of 19th century. Spartacus rebellion to the slave wars on the Roman Empire presented him as a hero to both the ancient and the modern society; most of the Marxist theorists argue and classical and modern writers have portrayed Spartacus as a the leader who championed one of the social revolutions in the roman empire. This idealization of Spartacus by the writers however is not justified.
Plutarch argues that ancient historical sources reveal that Spartacus was a Thracian; a constituent of the roman minority ancient tribes. Plutarch further describes Spartacus as the “the Thracian of Nomadic Stock”[4]. Apian on the other hand describes Spartacus as being Thracian by birth, and served as a soldier in the Roman Empire who later defied the emperor’s orders and was later sold as a slave to die in the gladiator arenas but later emerged an undefeatable gladiator. Florus states that Spartacus rose from a Thracian mercenary to become a roman soldier who later becomes defiant, and afterwards due to his strength, he becomes a renowned gladiator. Most classical writers portray Spartacus as a Thracian slave who led the rebellion against the Roman Empire. Modern writers and historians too have different interpretation on the memories of Spartacus.[5]
Spartacus is remembered for a number of reasons particularly the roles he played during the times of slavery in the Roman Empire. One of the reasons for his remembrance in the Roman history is primarily attributed to the fact that he stood out against the Roman Empire’s slavery. Spartacus propelled a huge revolt against the Roman army, although he was defeated, he managed to keep the roman army at bay for a substantial period of time. The mere attempt to revolt against the Roman army was enough to earn him a name in the history accounts of Rome.[6] Plutarch portrays Spartacus as an anti-slavery hero although his missions during the revolt remained unclear; he asserts that it could have been possibly being attributed to the murder of his wife after he was condemned to slavery in the House of Batiatus. Cicero also says that what motivated Spartacus to undertake his actions against the slavery by the Roman Empire is still unclear although he portrays Spartacus as an anti-slavery hero who managed to stand up against the oppression by the Roman Empire and their owners. Cicero further says that Spartacus could have been on a revenge mission against his condemnation into slavery and the subsequent killing of his wife while he was still a slave under the house of Batiatus.[7]
Spartacus escape with other eighty slaves from the captivity of the Romans and later to lead a revolt against the Roman army earned him enough credit to be remembered in Roman History. His escape was historical; although they later lost under his stewardship; his body was never found on the battle field. Spartacus army presented a threat to the then powerful Roman Empire (Plutarch). The slave revolts were sparked by harsh treatments by their owners during the times. Spartacus determination was unbeatable, he was optimistic to crash the giant Roman army with his few crew members who consisted of mainly slaves. (Cicero). Spartacus admirations by many in the present and classical times are due to his unimaginable courage and determination of a Thracian gladiator who was able to bring unrest to the giant Roman Army for a period of two years.
Classical historians and writers were contradicting over what Spartacus motives were during his and other slaves’ revolt. According to Plutarch writings, Spartacus just wanted to escape towards the north and release his crew to go back to their homes. Apian and Florus say that Spartacus intended to confront the Roman Empire, Appian further says that Spartacus left that mission possibly due to Roman fears. None of actions that Spartacus undertook implies his motive towards the reformation of the roman society or towards the abolishment of slavery; which is depicted by modern historians and writers.[8]
Spartacus (1960 film)
The Spartacus film presents the life and happenings of Spartacus as screen play. It is a 1960 drama film that was directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film is based on the “novel of the same name “. The Spartacus film presents the idealizations of Spartacus from the views of a modern interpreter. The film depicts Spartacus as a rebellious slave with the intent of restructuring the Roman social attitudes through slave abolishment. The onset of film reveals that Spartacus is a Thracian slave who is subjected to intense oppression by his owner.[9] Spartacus is later sentenced to death by means of starvation. He is later recruited for gladiatorial training in the house of Batiatus. The series of events that unfold during his stay at the gladiatorial training depict oppression and abuse of rights that leads to a slave uprising that was led by Spartacus himself. The film notably depicts Spartacus as an anti- slavery hero whose aim was to stand up against the oppression by the Romans through social revolution.[10]
The way the film portrays Spartacus in contrary with the views of the classical writer and historians; it presents Spartacus from a modern interpretation of the view that Spartacus motivation towards the slave revolt was primarily accelerated by his need to initiate social change in the Roman Empire. According to classical writers and historians, the film contains some historical inaccuracies which are differing with historical accounts; they therefore argue that the film portrays Spartacus differently from the motives of the real Spartacus. Some of the inaccuracies in the film include: the film depicts that Spartacus was born into slavery contrary to the fact that he was either enslaved after serving in the Roman Army or he was captured during war. Such historical inaccuracies cast doubts on their interpretation of Spartacus and what motivated him to revolt against the Roman Empire.
A quick comparison between the classical interpretations of Spartacus and the modern interpretations reveal contradicting points of view towards the interpretation of Spartacus and his motives that compelled him to revolt against the Roman Army. The classical historians view Spartacus motivations as nothing directed towards Roman social revolution through abolishment of slavery. They claim that Spartacus had his reasons, some of which include revenge on the Roman Empire due to his humiliation. The modern interpretations however portray Spartacus from a different view in contrary to the classical interpretations. They depict Spartacus as an anti- slavery hero whose motive was directed towards achieving social revolution in Rome and the abolishment of slavery. On account of both interpretations, the classical interpretations of Spartacus offer creditable and reliable information. The idealizations of Spartacus by the modern interpretations cannot be justified sine no known historical accounts reveal Spartacus’s motives.
References
Auguet, R. (1994). Cruelty and civilization. New York: Routlege.
Baker, A. (2001). The gladiator: the secret history of Rome’s warrior slaves. upper saddle river: St. Martin’s Press.
Fast, H. (1996). Spartacus. New Jersey: M.E. Sharpe Shaw, B. D. (2001). Spartacus and the slave wars :a brief history with documents. Boston: Palgrave Macmillan.
Spartacus. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Original release, 1960. DVD, [Irvington, N.Y.]: Criterion Collection, 2001
Strauss, B. S. (2009). The Spartacus war. ontario: Simon & Schuster.
Winkler, M. M. (2007). Spartacus: film and history. New York: Wiley-Blackwell.
Yavetz, Z. (1988). Slaves and slavery in ancient Rome. New York: Transaction Publishers.
[1] Brent D. Shaw, Spartacus and the Slave Wars: a Brief History with Documents (New York: St. Martin’s, 2001) 39
[2] Brent D. Shaw, Spartacus and the Slave Wars: a Brief History with Documents (New York: St. Martin’s, 2001) 56
[3] Fast, H. (1996). Spartacus.( New Jersey: M.E. Sharpe.)
[4] Plutarch, “The Spartacus Slave War,” in Shaw, Spartacus, 125
[5] Strauss, B. S. (2009). The Spartacus war. ontario: Simon & Schuster, 29
[6] Yavetz, Z. (1988). Slaves and slavery in ancient Rome. New York: Transaction Publishers.
[7] Cicero, “Roman Governors Take Measures to Prevent the Recurrence of Slave Uprisings,” in Brent D. Shaw, Spartacus and the Slave Wars: a Brief History with Documents (Boston; New York: Bedford St. Martin’s, 2001) 127.
[8] Auguet, R. (1994). Cruelty and civilization. New York: Routlege. 35
[9] Spartacus. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Original release, 1960. DVD, [Irvington, N.Y.]: Criterion Collection, 2001.
[10] Winkler, M. M. (2007). Spartacus: film and history. New York: Wiley-Blackwell.
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