Here Was Spartacus

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The story of Spartacus, the slave-turned-gladiator who fought against the Roman Republic, is immortalized in the Kirk Douglas movie of the same name.

Now, history buffs can visit one of the sites where the rebel commander and his men clashed with Roman forces more than 2,000 years ago.

Archeologists recently discovered an ancient stone wall in a forest in Italy’s southern Calabria region. They used advanced ground-penetrating radar, laser scanning and soil core sampling to study the site and understand its purpose.

Covered in moss and stretching around 1.7 miles in length, the researchers determined that the wall was a fossa and agger – or ditch and mound – defensive system, which was a typical fortification method used by the Roman army.

They suggested that the wall was built by Roman general Marcus Licinius Crassus in 71 BCE to entrap Spartacus and his forces. The fortification’s construction was also referenced in historical sources, such as “The Life of Crassus” by Greek philosopher and historian Plutarch.

Other evidence hints that the area was the site of a fierce battle between Spartacus’ fighters and Crassus’ soldiers: The archeological team uncovered a number of broken weapons, such as sword handles, javelin points and spearheads.

“This barrier can be identified as the enclosure/ fortification wall erected by (Roman general) Marcus Crassus in 71 (BCE) to contain and trap Spartacus and his forces,” Andrea Maria Gennaro, the archeology superintendent who worked on the excavation, told Live Science. “After trying to go to Sicily, Spartacus was not able to move along the coastal roads because of the presence of Romans, so the only way to go (to) the peninsula and escape was crossing Aspromonte (mountain).”

Spartacus is known for leading the Third Servile War between 73 BCE and 71 BCE, a major slave rebellion in the Roman Republic, according to National Geographic.

Not much is known about the earlier life of Spartacus, but historians say he was born in Thrace – a region located in modern-day Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey – and might have served in the Roman Army.

He was later sold into slavery and was sent to a gladiatorial training school in Capua in 73 BCE. The Thracian escaped with about 70 other gladiators and took refuge on Mount Vesuvius.

Their numbers grew to an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 escaped slaves, who used guerrilla tactics to fend off Roman forces.