character
Spartacus
The escaped gladiator who led a slave revolt against Rome โ the canonical symbol of rebellion against an oppressor.
Origin
A Thracian-born gladiator who escaped a training school in Capua in 73 BCE and led an army of tens of thousands of escaped slaves in a war against Rome. He won several battles before being defeated and killed by Crassus. The 1960 Kirk Douglas film made the 'I'm Spartacus' scene โ where his followers all claim to be him to protect his identity โ one of the most quoted in cinema.
Modern usage
Invoked in any context of underclass revolt or solidarity. The 'I'm Spartacus' move is now its own meme: a crowd claiming collective responsibility to protect one of their own from punishment.
Tags
rebellion
slavery
solidarity