Starring: John Hannah, Manu Bennett, Dustin Clare, and Lucy Lawless | Genre: Action, Drama, Historical
Before Spartacus… there were gods and gladiators. Get ready to experience the epic, bloody, and unforgettable world of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011). A prequel to the legendary Spartacus series, this thrilling show delves into the ruthless world of gladiatorial combat, treachery, and power struggles that defined the arena long before the rise of the famous gladiator himself.

The Story: The Arena Beckons, but Survival is the Only God.
Set in the heart of ancient Rome, Gods of the Arena introduces us to the world of Batiatus’ Gladiator School, a place where men fight for survival, glory, and the hopes of freedom. Gannicus (Dustin Clare), a free-spirited and charismatic gladiator, is the star of the arena, living the high life in the brutal, blood-soaked world of combat. But with this status comes a price—one that even the greatest of gladiators can’t escape.

The story focuses on the rise and fall of Batiatus (John Hannah), the cunning and ambitious owner of the school, as he struggles to gain more power and influence in the cutthroat world of Roman politics. The prequel delves deeper into his manipulative nature, highlighting his dark relationship with his wife, Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), whose ambitions run just as deep, and his eventual obsession with seeing his gladiators succeed at any cost.
As gladiators are pitted against one another for the entertainment of the bloodthirsty crowd, a world of secrets, betrayals, and vengeance unfolds. Gannicus, once a celebrated champion, becomes entangled in this brutal web of power and lust, navigating the treacherous relationships between his fellow gladiators, the enslaved fighters, and the merciless patrons who control their fates.

The Trailer Teases:
Gripping Gladiatorial Combat – The fierce battles in the arena are raw, brutal, and visually stunning, showcasing the warrior spirit of each combatant as they fight for their lives.
Political Intrigue – Behind every fight lies a complex game of manipulation, as Batiatus and his wife plot their way to the top of Roman society, using the gladiators as mere pawns in their dangerous game.
Intricate Character Dynamics – The relationships between the gladiators, their captors, and their lovers are filled with tension, desire, and betrayal, adding emotional weight to each bloody battle.
A Dangerous New Champion – Gannicus’ journey from carefree fighter to a man consumed by ambition and survival is as unpredictable as it is captivating, making him one of the most compelling anti-heroes in the series.

Will Gannicus and his fellow gladiators escape the grip of the arena and claim their freedom, or will they be consumed by the gods of blood and sand?
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011) – Power, ambition, and betrayal shape the path to greatness. Who will rise from the sands and become the true gladiator god? Get ready to witness a battle that will change everything.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.