Spartacus: Blood and Sand

this show i tell ya..

http://www.starz.com/originals/Spartacus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series focuses on the historical figure of Spartacus (played by Andy Whitfield), a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S. DeKnight and Robert Tapert focused on structuring the events of Spartacus' obscure early life leading up to the beginning of historical records.[2] The show has been rated TV-MA for graphic violence, strong sexual content, and coarse language.

The show was initially renewed for a second season but production was delayed because Whitfield was diagnosed with early-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Due to the delay, Starz produced a six-episode prequel series, entitled Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. Pre-production of season 2 began following the announcement that Whitfield was cancer free,[3] however his cancer recurred.[4] Starz has since replaced Whitfield with actor Liam McIntyre, who will play Spartacus for season two.

Producers Steven S. DeKnight and Robert Tapert have stated they used two historical consultants, with whom they exchanged scripts.[2] Despite this, the series contains a number of historical errors.

Notable errors and fallacies are:

* Lentulus Batiatus' praenomen is given as "Quintus". However, the praenomen of the historical Batiatus was "Gnaeus".
* Batiatus is depicted having an ambition to become a magistrate or a senator. Historically this would have been impossible, as lanistae (and ex-lanistae), being infames through virtue of their profession, were not permitted to serve either as magistrates or as senators. A lanista was regarded as both a butcher (lanius) and a pimp (leno).[
* Guards are shown dressed as Roman legionaries wearing lorica segmentata. The first attested use of this type of armor by legionaries dates to around 9 BC,six decades after Spartacus' revolt.
* Barca is described as a Carthaginian and as being the last prisoner left alive from the fall of Carthage.[34] However, Carthage was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC (at the end of the Third Punic War), seven decades before the time in which the series is set.
* In the show, Batiatus purchases six slaves for 100 denarii. At this period, the average price for a slave was between 960 and 4000 denarii, with the cheapest known costing 75 denarii.
* Historically, the revolt of Spartacus began with the rebels seizing kitchen utensils as weapons, before they were able to obtain swords.
* When the viewer last sees Glaber he is considering running for the office of praetor as Spartacus rebels. Historically, he was already serving as praetor when the revolt started.

regardless its pretty entertaining.