Download Marcus Licinius Crassus

Notes on:
The Modern Times and the Living Past

One-minute immersion exercise in Ancient History and its Hollywood version
By
Jose Sison Luzadas
Delray Beach Fl
Topic:
NEGOTIATING AT BASEMENT BARGAIN PRICE
“The Crassus Approach”
Marcus Licinius Crassus
from The Louvre, Paris
Source: Internet
Sensitive people feel easily embarrassed when complimented with the word
“crass”, a name whether it is used as noun or adjective refers to a person or
persons having rude, crude stupid and unrefined manners or anyone lacking in
discrimination and sensibility. Crass is short for CRASSUS, a wealthy patrician who
like Brutus, lent his name in the dictionary. He is said to be the richest man in
Rome during the time when Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great were just political
rivals. Crassus amassed wealth and influence when he sided with Dictator Sulla
whose reign is notoriously involved by purging his enemies and confiscating their
properties as well. Using his good connection to take advantage over his rivals,
Crassus embarked on buying all these confiscated properties at bargain prices as
he enjoyed monopoly for their resale value.
A shrewd real estate guy, Crassus is ahead of his time. He has easy access
whenever and wherever there is big fire in Rome. He has at his disposal a brigade of
500 slaves skilled in building construction and putting out fire. It was said that
many of the fires were of suspicious origins and were attributed to Crassus.
Of what we know today in business jargon as FLIP-FLOP in market real estate
manipulation we can say that Crassus was an old pro. But this Roman patrician
wanted more than amassing wealth. Known for having financed the rise of Julius
Caesar to leadership, he did not hide his ambition to achieve same military honors
and top posts in government. He envied the adulation given by the Roman people to
his contemporaries, Cicero, Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great.
However, with his money he managed to get elected as member in the First
Triumvirate and got a plump post as governor of Syria which promised him more
wealth. When the Senate feared that Rome’s internal safety is threatened by the
slave rebellion led by Thracian gladiator, Spartacus, Crassus volunteered to equip,
train and led an army to quash the revolt. He won which earned him a measure of
respect as military commander. He did not show any mercy to the six thousand
slaves captured alive. His order is to crucify and left them hanging dotting the
Appian Way as lesson to anyone for defying Rome in the future.
However, his obsession to achieve accolades at par with Pompey the Great and
Caesar betrayed him in the end. Crassus is no genius like his co-triumvirs in the
science of military strategy and tactics that in his attempt to conquer Parthia was a
total disaster. It was reported that in the battle where Crassus was killed, his
enemies poured molten gold in his severed head and mouth as punishment for
insatiable greed.
THANK YOU FOR READING.
HERE NOW IS THE ENTERTAINMENT PART
What Hollywood wants us to believe?
Spartacus, the title of the movie and also the name of the leading character has
nothing to do with Sparta, the Greek city-state and rival of Athens.
Hollywood did a “spartacular” job with its movie production starring a popular
Hollywood actor known for his cleft-chin. Since the release of the movie in 1960,
Kirk Douglas in the title role often identified privately as Spartacus’ alter ego.
Gladiator Spartacus is a Thracian native purchased by a Roman slave merchant
Biatrus who in turn enrolled him in his gladiatorial school in Capua where he met
and fell in love to a lovely slave girl from Britain named Varinia.
He led a slave revolt in decadent Rome and attempts to lead his followers to
freedom. After several successful battles against Rome’s elite army, he decided to
leave Italy but was outsmarted by the Roman soldiers led by Crassus who bribed
the pirates who earlier promised Spartacus ships for his exit. He was trapped and
pinned by three Roman Army divisions and there was no way out but to put a good
fight to the finish.
Remember the familiar scenes of Hollywood movies involving gladiatorial fight,
combatants stand facing to address the emperors speaking in unison: "Ave
Caesar, morituri te salutant" Heil Caesar, we salute you. We are ready to
die to entertain you!
Not in “Spartacus” the movie. The movie instead compensates one amazing
incident that illustrates a defining moment in loyalty, camaraderie and ‘spirit de
corps’ and at the same time created one notable quotable quote.
When Spartacus and his army of gladiators and slaves were routed they were taken
prisoners by Crassus who is obsessed of meeting in person their leader. He
promised to offer them freedom if they will bring their leader or else will face the
worst treatment as prisoners. When Spartacus was about to surrender himself, a
move in an attempt to save his men from any worse threat, he heard one captive
with a booming voice “I am Spartacus!” Another man did the same as he
shouted “I am Spartacus!” Not far another man shouted, “I am Spartacus!”
Another man at the back shouted “I am Spartacus!” Still a man little bit farther
shouted “I am Spartacus!” more and more taking turns just to shout “I am
Spartacus!” until everyone was heard that he is Spartacus.
Gone temporarily insane of what he saw and heard, Crassus ordered all the
survivors including Spartacus to march and to be crucified one by one to dot the
Appian Way in the direction toward Rome If we recall our ancient history class, Via
Appia or Appian Way is where “ALL ROADS LED TO ROME” the equivalent of
today’s GPS to avoid getting lost entering “Roma Aeterna” or ‘Eternal City’.
Crassus wanted to stage the last gladiatorial fight. He chose Spartacus and another
veteran, Antoninus where the victor will be crucified in the end. Antoninus was
defeated. Spartacus was left dangling in the cross.
In the closing minutes of the movie, we see Varinia arrived with the child in her arms
both were freed and allowed to show up and see Spartacus for one last look who is
now hovering between life and death. Spartacus was happy to die having had a final
glimpse at his son whom he pinned his hope to continue and finish the struggle he
started to free Rome.
The End
THANKS FOR READING.
HERE NOW IS THE ENTERTAINMENT PART
Courtesy of Hollywood
.
Hollywood did a “spartacular” job in 1960 of its movie production, “Spartacus” with
popular Hollywood known for his cleft-chin. Since the release of the movie, Kirk Douglas in
the title role was stuck as Spartacus’ alter ego in the role of a gladiator who led a slave
revolt in decadent Rome and attempts to lead his followers to freedom but was crashed by
Crassus in the end.
Spartacus has nothing to do with Sparta, a Greek city-state, Athens rival. Spartacus is a
Thracian native purchased by a Roman slave merchant Biatrus who in turn enrolled him
in a gladiatorial school in Capua where he met and fell in love to a lovely slave girl from
Britain named Varinia
Remember the familiar Hollywood movie scenes that before the gladiators begin a “do or
die” extravaganza of performance, they stand facing to address the emperor in a choral f
salutation: "Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant" Heil Caesar, we who are about to die
salute you!
Not in “Spartacus” the movie, the gladiators are slaves and are defiant like Spartacus
against Rome. Instead the movie compensates one significant incident that illustrates a
defining moment in loyalty, camaraderie and ‘spirit de corp’.
"I am Spartacus"
One of the most famous quotes in Spartacus the Movie is the line "I am Spartacus". This
occurs when Crassus promises that the captured slaves will be given their lives if they
identify their slave leader, Spartacus. Spartacus is just about to rise when he hears another
voice proclaim "I am Spartacus" then another voice shouts "I am Spartacus" then another
screams shouts "I am Spartacus" and then another until hundreds of voices are all
shouting "I am Spartacus". Noone will betray their leader and as a result 6000 captured
slaves are crucified along the Appian Way.
Shortly after, Spartacus escapes with his companions and becomes leader of an
army of slaves. He fights and wins his first battle against a Roman army led by
Glabrus and trains his men in the mountains of Italy, where Varinia and Antoninus
(Tony Curtis), Crassus servant, later join them.
After two years of raiding and beating smaller Roman armies, Spartacus decides to
leave Italy and hires a pirate, Tigranes (Herbert Lom), to supply him with ships.
Meanwhile in Rome, with unrest and discord is growing due to the slave rebellion
and pressure on the armies to do something, Crassus is waiting for an occasion to
seize power. Gracchus (Charles Laughton), the leader of the Plebeians, and his ally,
Julius Caesar (John Gavin), oppose him.
Arriving with his army on the coast, Spartacus discovers that the pirates, bribed by
Rome, will not give him any ships. Unable to withdraw, Spartacus and his army
discover that they are surrounded by three Roman armies led by Crassus. In the
final battle, the slaves, after a fierce struggle, are routed, and slaughtered by the
thousands. The few thousand survivors, who include Antoninus and Spartacus, are
taken to Rome to be crucified.
Crassus then finds Varinia with her newborn baby on the battlefield and befriends
her. He fails in an attempt to seduce her and, out of malice, orders that Spartacus
and Antoninus are to engage in a fight to the death and the survivor will be
crucified.
After a long and brutal sword fight, Antoninus is defeated, and Spartacus suffers a
slow death on the cross with his slave companions beside him. But before Spartacus
dies, Varinia, freed through the influence of Gracchus, shows him their son, a free
Roman citizen.
The End