Sizzling Hot! The Women of Spartacus

Courtesy Maxim

On a show that is known for ultra-violent gladiator battles, the women of Spartacus television series do not take a backseat to their male counterparts. Set in approximately 72 – 71 BC, women, like the men, are unhindered by Christian puritanical values and will scheme, betray, maim, slaughter, seduce or all of the above in their pursuit of power, wealth, societal status, freedom, love and vengeance. Unlike passive female characters on other television series, the women of Spartacus are the living embodiment of deception, sexual depravity, courage and tenacity.

For those that have never watched Spartacus, the character descriptions below, some of which intentionally sound like cheesy personal ads, are light on major spoilers, if any at all. However, the Best Kills section will contain spoilers but can only be viewed by hovering over it with your mouse. Caution: Some images may be too hot and provocative for you. Can you handle the hotness of Spartacus’ women? Find out below.

Review: Spartacus Vengeance: “Wrath of the Gods”, Season 2 Finale, Episode 10

Warning: Major Spoilers Ahead.

The thirst for vengeance is an appetite that can never truly be sated. The desire for retribution or the balancing of a wrong, cannot undo the initial harmful act or make the perpetrator feel the loss or agony of the original suffering. In history, religion, society, literature and in life, acts of vengeance often beget a cycle of retaliation where the original intent, whether it be for social justice or simply “an eye for an eye”, is lost and the victims seeking punishment become the very thing they want to destroy.

Review: Spartacus Vengeance: “Monsters”, Season 2 Episode 9

Glaber discovers the location of the rebel camp in the latest episode of Spartacus Vengeance!

All That Remains

In Season Two, Spartacus, played by actor Liam McIntyre, hasn’t had the emotional resonance of the first season when he tragically lost his wife, killed his best friend Varro as commanded and fought each day for his survival.  Spartacus’ journey this season of becoming a leader of the rebellion that could possibly bring down the Roman Empire has progressed slower than expected.  Although the rebels have freed Naevia from the mines, rescued Crixus and Oenomaus and burnt down the arena in Capua there hasn’t been much in a way of a strategic plan of action other than recruiting German slaves to their cause.  On the other hand, Spartacus’ philosophical and moral beliefs have been well-defined this season but some of his actions are questionable.  His belief that every life has its worth is underscored by the fact that hundreds of people died in the destruction of the arena although one could argue that the citizens of Capua who cheered for the execution of rebels Crixus and Oenomaus are not innocent bystanders.

Review: Spartacus Vengeance: “Libertus”, Season 2 Episode 5

Gannicus returns in the latest episode of Spartacus Vengeance!

Burn It To The Ground

Tales of Spartacus’ defeat at the mines have spread across the region and imprisoned rebels Oenomaus, Crixus and Rhaskos are to be executed in the arena as a message that Rome will smother any flame that burns against its rule. Spartacus sends his own message: one that would ignite the hearts of all enslaved by attempting a daring rescue at the arena.

“Libertus” treaded very carefully by balancing character motivation with the advancement of the plot. Spartacus has always believed in the worth of every human life (although his kill count must be approaching triple digits) and there’s no doubt he would risk his own to save Crixus and Oenomaus. However, one might think there would be some trepidation in attempting another rescue that could cost him more lives including Mira’s and Agron’s. Spartacus is bold but is not the reckless man he once was when he unleashed his anger on Glaber’s man at the end of the season premiere. This time he has a plan, loyal followers he can depend on, the element of surprise, and a greater purpose to fulfill.

Recap: Spartacus Vengeance: “Empty Hands”, Season 2 Episode 4

Lots of blood, death, foul language, and full frontal nudity – must be the latest episode of Spartacus Vengeance!

Trail of Blood

Spartacus has paid a big price in rescuing Naevia from the mines. Many of his rebels died in the rescue and a few were captured including Crixus and bald gladiator Rhaskos. Rather than making an unwise decision to mount another rescue attempt so soon, Spartacus leads his followers to Vesuvius to rejoin Agron’s group. In the woods, Glaber’s men, led by Marcus, have split up into smaller squads to cover more ground in their hunt for Spartacus. As pointed out by Ashur, Marcus makes a crucial error in strategy. Instead of keeping his soldiers together in one large force that would easily outnumber the rebels in a battle, they give Spartacus’ group a fighting chance in each encounter. Marcus, arrogant in his belief in the superiority of Romans, has underestimated the rebels because he does not understand that they were once gladiators that spent their lives training to kill and are more than a match for common soldiers. Despite the rebels’ tenacity and fighting abilities, many have fallen and Spartacus feels he is to blame. Mira tries to ease his burden by telling him, “It is because of you … that we are free.”

Recap: Spartacus Vengeance: The Greater Good, Season 2 Episode 3

Lots of blood, death, foul language, and full frontal nudity – must be the latest episode of Spartacus Vengeance!

An Empty Hand Can Yet Become A Fist

Spartacus, Crixus, Agron, Nasir and the rest of the rebels brutally attack guards escorting a caravan of slaves headed for the mines. Just before Agron is about to get killed, Nasir drives his sword into the attacking guard’s back. Agron compliments Nasir, “You favor clever strategy, f*ck the man from behind”. Addressing the freed slaves, Crixus tells them he searches for a women named Naevia from the House of Batiatus.

While searching the bodies for valuables, Agron and Nasir come across a slaver laying on the ground that is still alive. The slaver pleads to spare his life and a horse in exchange for information on Naevia. The sound of Agron yelling as he thrusts his sword into the slaver’s throat draws the attention of Spartacus and Crixus. Before Nasir can find the words to tell Crixus what the slaver said about Naevia, Agron simply says, “Dead … Naevia is dead.”

Recap: Spartacus Vengeance: A Place In This World, Season 2 Episode 2

Lots of blood, death, foul language, and full frontal nudity – must be the latest episode of Spartacus Vengeance!

A New Purpose, A New Destiny

Dishonored and disgraced, Oenomaus seeks to be punished for what he has become in the savage fighting Pits; a place where “base animals” with no honor meet an ugly end. In a flashback, we see that young Oenomaus was fierce and wild like a “rabid dog” in the fighting Pits many years ago. Recognizing the ferocity and strong survival instincts of the fighter, Titus Batiatus barters for young Oenomaus, proclaiming that “All men can be tamed no matter how wild. One must only find an ember of purpose and give it breath”.

At the ludus, Titus respectfully advises young Oenomaus that to be a champion fighter he must fight for something beyond survival and discover his own greater purpose which will lead him to his destiny. Later, young Oenomaus tells Titus, “Let’s not fight for the gods. I fight for you. That is my purpose, my life, to honor the House of Batiatus”. In present time, Oenomaus, fighting without purpose and feeling shamed for his role in the fall of House Batiatus, is badly beaten in the Pits, when a mysterious hooded person saves him from death at the last moment.

Recap: Spartacus Vengeance: “Fugitivus”, Season 2 Episode 1

Note: This recap contains spoilers. If you haven’t watched this episode yet, you can stream it at Starz.com.

“We need a leader, not some angry boy who can barely piss without splashing everyone about him” is one of many memorable lines from the long awaited season premiere of Spartacus Vengeance. This episode picks up a few weeks after the first season finale, aptly titled “Kill Them All’, which ended with the massacre in the House of Batiatus and Spartacus vowing to make “Rome tremble” as he and his fellow gladiators escaped the ludus.

All the hallmarks of a Spartacus episode are taken to the extreme this week as we witness a bone snapping out of an arm, a dagger thrust into a man’s eye, bloodbath at a whorehouse, and a gigantic strap-on dildo. The gruesome deaths, stylized slow motion sword fighting and no holds bar nudity would seem empty, maybe even comical, if it weren’t because we are emotionally invested in the plights of these characters and the complexity of the larger themes being explored. Characters we have come to care about are refamilarized in the premiere episode as well as some new characters introduced, nicely setting up what should be another stellar season.