A New Crassus as Roman Villain

This chapter examines the historical Crassus as reimagined in the STARZ Spartacus series by means of clever adaptations and modifications. It argues that Crassus undergoes a transformation, as he is sexualized by the addition of a tender romance with a slave woman, Kore—an affair turned bitter by the machinations of an invented son named Tiberius—and by his gladiator-style physical conditioning regimen. The result is a compelling characterization that is not a product of its literary and cinematic predecessors but is remarkably consistent with the ancient source material and respectful of at least some of the realities of period.