The story begins with an unnamed Thracian’s involvement in the war against the Getae in Roman auxiliary under the command of the legatus, Claudius Glaber. Glaber, persuaded by his wife Ilithyia to seek greater glory, instead decides to head east to confront the forces of Mithradates. The Thracian, feeling betrayed, led a mutiny against Glaber, and managed to make it back in time to save his wife from a band of Getae, but he was unable to save his village. The two were captured by Glaber the next day, resulting in the Thracian being condemned to die in the arena for inciting mass desertion of the auxiliary, and his wife being sold into slavery. The Thracian, together with a group of other deserters was transported to Capua.
At Capua, prior to the gladiatorial games, a feast was hosted by Ilithyia’s father, senator Albinius. Among those invited was Lentulus Batiatus, lanista of a local gladiatorial ludus, his wife Lucretia, and his rival Salonius. The next day, during the gladiatorial games Glaber sent four of Salonius’s gladiators against the last remaining Thracian prisoner, but he survived the execution after killing his four opponents as the crowd cheered for his release. While Glaber was humiliated and still demanded the Thracian's death, Albinius rescinded the punishment to slavery. Batiatus purchased the Thracian to be trained in his ludus. Since no-one knew his name, Batiatus took the liberty of naming the prisoner Spartacus, as he fought like Spartacus, the legendary Thracian king.
The Thracian, henceforth known as Spartacus, joins Batiatus’ ludus under the tutelage of Doctore, a former gladiator himself. Spartacus is befriended by Varro, a Roman who sold himself into slavery in order to pay his debts, but he is persistently harassed by the senior gladiators led by Crixus, the undefeated Gaul, and Barca, a Carthaginian. In the midst of training, Spartacus was visited by Glaber, who informed him that his wife, Sura was sold to a Syrian slave trader after she was repeatedly raped. Glaber gave Spartacus the piece of fabric that Sura wore around her thigh as proof, as he no longer sought a quick death of Spartacus, but rather wished to see him tormented slowly and consumed by the sands of time in the arena. Batiatus, who was unable to control Spartacus, discovered the instrument of his taming, he persuaded Spartacus to fight for his freedom and that of his wife. Spartacus was able to pass the final test against Crixus, thus officially becoming a gladiator. He was branded with the mark of Batiatus on his arm as he swore the oath of the Sacramentum Gladiatorum.
Upon learning that he will compete in his first match against Varro at the lowest level in the upcoming festival of games, the unsatisfied Spartacus first taunts then disables Gnaeus, whom will fight Crixus in the main event, now leaving it open. Crixus is also revealed to be having an affair with domina Lucretia presumably against his will. He also shows a great infatuation with Lucretia's slave Naevia, as he asks Ashur to get Crixus an opal necklace to give as a gift to Naevia. At the feast, the gladiators are put on display to the party guests, where Ilithyia's lust for gladiators is revealed. Spartacus attacks Crixus during the party, in the presence of the high class Roman guests, forcing Batiatus to place him in the primus. In the match the next day, Crixus is able to easily defeat Spartacus, while realizing that he needs to stay alive for the sake of Sura, Spartacus appealed to Batiatus, who granted him mercy against the will of the crowd.
Following his defeat, Spartacus is forced by to fight in the pits of the Underworld where gamblers wager coins on matches that are fought to the death. Spartacus would triumph match after match, but each time his injuries exacerbate as Batiatus continues to gain profits after wagering on him. Meanwhile, back at the ludus, Crixus presents Naevia with the opal necklace received from Ashur. She then refuses it, which prompts Crixus to give it to Lucretia. While desperately wanting to end his own misery, Spartacus offers to lose and die consciously while having Batiatus bid against him with the condition that Batiatus would rescue Sura following his death. Meanwhile Naevia explains to Crixus why she had denied the nacklace, as Naevia is a slave and cannot accept treasures. The two share a passionate kiss. In Spartacus' final fight in the pits, he quickly allows his opponent to gain the upper hand, but after spotting hit men sent to kill Batiatus, Spartacus kills his opponent before hurling an axe into the crowd, killing one assailant, and saving Batiatus. Despite losing the substantial wager, Batiatus has decided to allow Spartacus to re-join other gladiators in the ludus, as a repayment for saving his life.
Spartacus is admitted back into training in the ludus, all the while Crixus continues their fued. Batiatus is visited by Salonius and the Magistrate, while Barca and Ashur continue the search for the man who hired the assassins. The Magistrate informs Batiatus that Salonius has secured the undefeated Theocles ("the Shadow of Death") for the primus of the next games. Batiatus then secures Crixus and Spartacus as opponents, fighting as one. Ilithyia visits Lucretia. The two make a deal, Lucretia will allow Ilithyia a private viewing of Crixus, while a priestess will bless Lucretia with the gift of fertility. Spartacus and Crixus struggle to find a way to work together against Doctore, who is the only man to survive against Theocles. After murdering Ovidius's family, Batiatus threatens Ovidius with his sons life. Ovidius reveals the true master behind the plot against Batiatus' life: Salonius. Lucretia is being treated by the priestess, who asks her questions that determine the mix of a potion. After the questions are answered, Lucretia drinks the potion. She is then informed that she only has one hour before the potion wears off. With Batiatus abroad, she summons Crixus to her chamber. Crixus denies Lucretia, with the excuse of love making a man weak before battle. Lucretia tearfully dismisses him, and while Naevia escorts Crixus to the cells, the two make love. The next day at the games, during the Primus, the Magistrate informs his guests that Ovidius and his family have been murdered, to which Batiatus questions the actions that could prompt such an act, all the while staring at Salonius. Crixus and Spartacus share words before the match begins, where the two agree upon fighting for love. The main event begins with the introductions of Crixus and Spartacus, and then the large and savage Theocles, who carries two very large swords. The fight begins with Crixus and Spartacus working together, even drawing blood from the giant. The two finally manage to deeply wound the titan to a point where they think they achieve victory, but in the midst of celebrating, Theocles rises back to his feet. Crixus and Spartacus are now not as tandem, repeatedly getting in each other's way. The fight takes a very bad turn when Theocles manages to wound Crixus. Before Theocles can deliver the fatal blow, Spartacus attacks, parrying with the giant. A heavily wounded Crixus manages to bounce sunlight off his helmet and into Theocles's eyes, allowing Spartacus to behead the giant and win the bout. Meanwhile, Crixus is dragged off the field while it begins to rain, ending the drought as the crowd chants in favor of Spartacus.
-- Wikipedia --