Character subpage for Spartacus: Blood and Sand. See here for the main character index.
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Sibyl
Sibyl (Gwendoline Taylor)
"There is no life absent your touch."
Sibyl is a young and beautiful Greek slave, rescued from Roman enslavement by Gannicus and the rebels in War of the Damned. Now free, she wants a glimpse of affection from her savior.
- Action Survivor: She's not very good at fighting, though she survives a number of potentially deadly situations and at least tries to fight back against Heracleo and her dominus.
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Subverted; she falls head over heels for Gannicus, but seems to love him because she views him as a heroic man who saved her life and liberated her.
- All-Loving Heroine: She's a very kind and caring person, even towards some of the Romans; she's seen handing out food to the Roman prisoners, is kind to Laeta and risks her own life to help rescue her from Heracleo.
- Anguished Declaration of Love: While sheltering with Gannicus from a snowstorm, she kisses him. He kisses her back, then pulls away, saying he told her she should stay away from him. She replies: "You ask the impossible". Gannicus decides to give in at this point and sleeps with her.
- The Bait: In episode 6, Gannicus gets her to pray loudly to lure Roman soldiers to their hiding place so he can ambush them.
- Battle Couple: Subverted. She tries to help out Gannicus during their skirmish with the pirates, but she is swiftly disarmed.
- Beautiful Slave Girl: She starts out as an attractive slave girl with revealing outfits, until she's freed. She keeps the outfits, though.
- Better to Die than Be Killed: Nearly happens in episode 6, with Gannicus handing her a dagger and telling her to kill herself if he should fail to kill the Romans blocking their escape route, as "it will be kinder than what they would do to you". When this seems to be the case, Sibyl prepares to heed Gannicus's advice; fortunately, Gannicus takes out all the soldiers and this trope is averted.
- Betty and Veronica: The Betty to Saxa's Veronica for Gannicus.
- Chain Pain: Uses a pair of shackles as a weapon against Heracleo, though is quickly disarmed.
- The Cutie: She's very sweet, compassionate and optimistic.
- Died in Your Arms Tonight: Spartacus did.
- Dogged Nice Girl: To Gannicus. She often watches him from afar and tries to approach him, either to thank him for saving her or to try and get closer to him. Even when Gannicus orders her to stay away from him and other men like him, she persists.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: She's one of the few surviving slaves; although she does lose her lover Gannicus in the process, she ultimately escapes the Roman Republic to freedom (which is what Gannicus wanted either way). And in fact, given her strong faith, she is almost sure to believe they'll be Together in Death when her time comes.
- Embarrassing Nickname: Saxa often disparagingly calls her "little thing", though by the end she seems to use it in a less insulting manner.
- Fanservice Pack: She was far from unattractive before, but when Saxa dresses her up in a revealing white gown and and brings her to Gannicus for a threesome, he's clearly stunned by how different she looks. By the end of the season, she's foregone clothing on several occasions and has two sex scenes with Gannicus.
- Fire-Forged Friends: With Laeta. Though Sibyl actually always liked Laeta due to her being much kinder than the other Roman elites, they weren’t especially friendly and are somewhat hostile to each other when Sibyl figures out she hid some of the prisoners and tells Gannicus. However, after Sibyl helps save her from Heracleo and they are both firmly on the same side, they seem pretty friendly towards each other. In the end, they stick close together as they join the other surviving rebels across the mountains, both grieving the people they lost.
- Good Luck Charm: She seems to regard her carved idol as one, constantly carrying it with her, clutching it when she prays and even dripping her blood on it as an offering to the gods. She also gives it to Gannicus before the final battle presumably for this purpose and he’s seen wearing it on his belt. Although her prayers to help the rebels escape the Romans in Sinuessa and the mountains are ultimately answered, the idol doesn’t do poor Gannicus much good in the end, though Sibyl herself escapes to freedom.
- Gorgeous Greek: She is Greek in origin and considered very beautiful; Gannicus in particular is quite smitten.
- Go Through Me: She tries this against her dominus when he stabs Diotimos, who was trying to free her and the other slaves, making a grab for his sword to protect them. Unfortunately, Laurus gets there first and viciously kicks her away.
- Graceful Ladies Like Purple/True Blue Femininity: Her outfit has an overlapping blue and violet scheme, highlighting her gentle and innocent nature.
- Grew a Spine: Initially quite shy and timid, she becomes somewhat more confident and assertive, standing up to Saxa to tell her and Gannicus about the escaped prisoners, attacking Heracleo in an attempt to save Laeta and also being the one who initiates her and Gannicus's first kiss which ultimately leads to them sleeping together.
- The Heart: Particularly for Gannicus. He later comments she saved him, and ultimately it's indicated he's fighting for her.
- The Ingenue: Played with. She is a very innocent, delicate girl and spoken of as having Incorruptible Pure Pureness. However, she is also quite sexual, appearing fully nude more than once and is a wiser woman by the end.
- Innocent Blue Eyes: Has these (though it's difficult to tell at times, due to them being a dark shade of blue).
- Innocent Fanservice Girl: Presented as something of an Ingenue and portrayed as very young and innocent, but she has sex more than once on screen and appears fully nude.
- Last Girl Wins: Downplayed. She is Gannicus' final and perhaps true love, but he ultimately dies. He mentions waiting for her with Oenomaus and Melitta in the afterlife, indicating he views her with equal affection as them.
- Like Brother and Sister: States that she loved Diotimos as a brother and that he always looked out for her.
- The Load: Has a tendency to get rescued and is the only love interest to not make a single kill, though not from lack of trying in a few cases. She does however prove useful in helping Gannicus set a trap that ultimately gets them to escape Sinuessa, and bandages his wounds.
- Longing Look: Gives lots of these towards Gannicus.
- Love at First Sight: When she first lays eyes on Gannicus, she is completely in awe of him and quickly becomes enamored.
- Manic Pixie Dream Girl: For Gannicus to an extent. She's not especially hyperactive or quirky like most examples, but she's very sweet-natured and idealistic, having faith in the gods even though Gannicus doesn't, and bringing out the best in him. He manages to finally find some peace and purpose in his life after meeting her and later tells her he believes the gods sent her to save him. And in a twist, he's the one that dies, leaving her to an uncertain but free future.
- The Medic: Downplayed. She has some skill at healing, treating a cut on Gannicus's hand and also stating she often saw to her fellow slaves's injuries after their dominus beat them.
- Motherly Side Plait: Usually wears her hair in this style, reflecting her caring nature and Team Mom status.
- Neutral Female: Downplayed; she does actually try to help Gannicus when he fights Heracleo and tries to defend her fellow slaves against Laurus, but due to having no experience and being much physically smaller than her opponents, she realistically gets her ass kicked and mostly stays out of the way for practical reasons.
- Please, Don't Leave Me: She asks Gannicus to stay with her instead of fighting Crassus in the series finale. He gently declines, saying he has to fight so she and the other non-combatants have a chance to escape over the mountains. He promises to join her after the battle if he survives, prompting her to give him her lucky idol.
- Prayer Is a Last Resort: Sibyl is actually quite religious and prays a lot, but she and some of the other escaped slaves take it up a notch when the rebels are trapped in the mountains; despite the dangerously low temperatures, she and the others huddle around a make-shift altar desperately praying for the gods to save them. Sibyl even cuts herself to use her blood as an offering before passing out; luckily, Gannicus arrives in time to carry her towards shelter.
- Pre-Climax Climax: She and Gannicus have sex the night before the rebels' Last Stand against Crassus, because this could be their last chance to be together. As it tuns out, it is, because Gannicus ends up dying.
- Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: She's depicted as a beautiful young woman with pale skin and dark hair; her hair in particular is a contrast to her blonde rival, Saxa.
- Rescue Romance: Fell in love with Gannicus after he rescued her from her Laurus.
- Rescue Sex: After Gannicus saves her from freezing to death during a snowstorm, she kisses him and all but states she loves him. They end up having sex for the first time and become a couple.
- The Rival: With Saxa, for the affections of Gannicus.
- Satellite Love Interest: Her primary character arc is centered around being Gannicus' Love Interest and helping him find redemption/inner peace. However, she is involved in some subplots not solely involving Gannicus, such as helping rescue Laeta from Heracleo and being the one who discovers it was Laeta, not Attius, who hid the Roman prisoners, causing further rifts among the rebel forces.
- Second Episode Introduction: Of the final season.
- Second Love: Arguably for Gannicus, unless one counts his Friends with Benefits relationship with Saxa.
- She Is Not My Girlfriend: Involving Gannicus in episode 6.
- Shrinking Violet: In a stark contrast to Saxa, she's shy and softly-spoken, though she becomes somewhat more assertive.
- Slave Collar: While still enslaved, she and the rest of Laurus' slaves are forced to constantly wear collars. They swiftly ditch them after being freed.
- Stalking is Love: She's a bit...obsessive in her pursuit of Gannicus, though it mostly consists of following him around and trying to thank him for saving her. Gannicus mostly tells her to keep away from her for her own good, but it's made clear he is attracted to her. In the end, he gives in and they become a couple.
- Team Mom: It's implied that she was one to her fellow slaves and later takes this role towards the rebels, albeit in a downplayed manner. She mentions that she often tended to the other slaves' injuries, attempts to protect them from Laurus and she seems friendly with the other non-combatants.
- Token Religious Teammate: She has a lot more faith in the gods than the other characters, and even nearly freezes to death in a snowstorm because she was taking part in a ritual to appease the gods.
- Vapor Wear: Most of her dress have very high thigh slits, revealing she's apparently not wearing anything beneath.
- Virgin in a White Dress: Briefly wears a white dress when Saxa brings her to Gannicus for a threesome. It's not clear if she's a virgin, but she's clearly not very experienced sexually and either way, Gannicus ultimately declines to sleep with her due to her innocent nature. By the time he does sleep with her, she's wearing blue.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: In her eyes, Gannicus is a hero, sent by the gods to save her and the other slaves, despite his opinion he's just a washed-up gladiator and has little to live for but booze, sex and fighting. He eventually comes to believe Sibyl is right about him being not so bad and is inspired by her to be a better person.
Castus
Castus (Blessing Mokgohloa)
"Would that I had been you for but a day."
Castus is a Numidian pirate and the right-hand man of Heracleo. He later joins the rebellion after his allies' betrayal.
- Adaptational Late Appearance: He's part of Spartacus' Elite Four generals in real life. Here he didn't appear until the final season since Agron already got his characterization.
- Borrowed Catchphrase: While watching Nasir fight in make-shift arena, he borrows Agron's "fuck the gods".
- Can't Hold His Liquor: Becomes an important plot point: due to passing out drunk, the pirates leave him behind and so he is not involved with their betrayal of the rebels, ultimately joining them.
- The Charmer: Especially to Nasir. Unfortunately for him, whilst Nasir is flattered, he only has eyes for Agron.
- Death by Adaptation: The historical Castus died alongside Gannicus in the Third Servile War. Here, he's the second named character to die in the Final Battle.
- Demoted to Extra: His role is given to Agron in the series.
- Decomposite Character: He only shares the name and fate of the historical Castus, while Agron received the rest of the characterizations.
- Doomed by Canon: The historical Castus was killed in battle, although in this adaption, Agron fills his role instead. Castus dies anyway.
- Glass Cannon: Justified as he is not wearing any body protection.
- Historical Domain Character: Although In Name Only.
- Historical In-Joke: In relation to being Demoted to Extra in favor of Agron, their entire interactions was played a lot by the show runners. His last words to Agron are, "Would that I could have been you for but a day...", though it's in reference to his love for Nasir.
- Nice Guy: One of the few genuinely nice characters left on the show, despite being a pirate
- Number Two: To Heracleo.
- Pirate: Though he's actually a really Nice Guy.
- Race Lift: Gaul in real life, Numidian here.
- Redemption Quest: Joins the rebels to make up for his crew betraying them. In his case, Redemption Equals Death
- Reformed, but Rejected: Mostly by Agron.
- Sixth Ranger: To the rebels.
- Token Good Teammate: To the pirates.
Diotimos
Diotimos (Kelson Henderson)
"No. Yet absent fucking plan to be clothed or fed we must take matters into our own hands. Or risk early grave waiting for the Bringer of Fucking Rain to bless us with much needed shower."
Diotimos is a former slave of Laurus who escaped and became a rebel in Spartacus' army.
- Action Survivor: He tries to learn some fighting skills from Naevia but gets killed in the same episode.
- Character Death: When the rebels take Sinuessa.
- Due to the Dead: One of the fallen characters honored in The Dead and the Dying.
- In the Back: Laurus stabs him in the back of the neck whilst he's trying to rescue his fellow slaves.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He's only a Jerkass due to his harsh life and is actually a Nice Guy, especially to his fellow slaves.
- Like Brother and Sister: Sibyl states he was like a brother to her.
- Mauve Shirt: Gets a fair bit of characterisation in the second episode, and in subsequent episodes too, that his death has something of an emotional impact.
- Morality Pet: Seems to be one to Naevia (she having taken a few levels in Jerkass by War of the Damned). She is genuinely fond of him and teaches him how to wield a sword. When she finds him dying, she does her best to comfort him and appears truly distraught by his passing.
- Right in Front of Me: He openly tells Spartacus that living conditions among the rebels were horrible. He didn't know he was talking to Spartacus and the latter thought he was just speaking with Brutal Honesty.
- Team Dad: It's suggested by Sibyl that he was one to both her and Laurus' other slaves.
Attius
Attius (Cohen Holloway)
"I drained six cups and found myself in a heated argument with an imaginary cat!"
Attius is a Roman and a blacksmith in Sinuessa en Valle. He is a friend of Gannicus, whom he met when the latter gained his freedom.
- Action Survivor: He makes swords rather than wield them, but can still hold his own well enough. He's no match for Naevia, though.
- The Blacksmith: His profession.
- Forgotten Fallen Friend: One of the few fallen characters who wasn't honored in The Dead and the Dying.
- Killed Off for Real
- The Mole: Averted, but doesn't help him against an insane Naevia.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: His vocal disapproval of the rebel's treatment of their captives is part of what makes Naevia suspicious of him. That, and just being Roman.
- Only in It for the Money: Helps anyone who pays him enough, later reluctantly joins the rebellion since his helping Spartacus would mean he'd be executed for treason.
- Sixth Ranger: To the rebels.
- What the Hell, Hero?: He calls the rebels out on their mistreatment of Roman civilians.
- Would Hit a Girl: Justified. Naevia attacked him and he tried to defend himself.
Heracleo
Heracleo (Vince Colisimo)
"Did I not fucking warn you about my reach?! Ha!"
Heracleo is the leader of a band of Cilician Pirates.
- Adaptation Expansion/Named by the Adaptation: The historical Spartacus allied with and was betrayed/abandoned by pirates, and Heracleo most definitely represents them.
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: All the slaves warn Spartacus against trusting him citing his profession of a pirate. Turns out that he can be trusted after all as he helps Spartacus beat the Romans in a skirmish. But then he betrays the Rebels after the Romans offer more coin.
- Devil in Plain Sight: His constant lines about how he's only in it for the money and will betray anyone at the slightest provocation make him come across as a Loveable Rogue joke until he actually does sell out Spartacus and the rebellion in exchange for Crassus's money.
- Early-Bird Cameo: The show's artistic license changes the sequence of events, placing his involvement earlier in the war than is historically accurate.
- Enemy Mine: Sides with Spartacus against the Romans. Till some time at least.
- Karmic Death: He is stabbed through the neck by Laeta, with the poker he used to brand her.
- The Leader: Of the pirates.
- Not Quite Dead: But is then properly killed.
- Oh, Crap!: When he tells Gannicus that he cannot fight without risking the life of his woman (Sibyl), only for Gannicus to reply "She is not my woman.".
- Sixth Ranger: To the rebels. Actually a Sixth Ranger Traitor.
- Stone Wall: Has decent offensive skills, but his defense and counter-attacks are his real strong points.
- Would Hit a Girl: He brands Laeta with a hot poker, and hits and holds a sword to Sibyl's throat. He would've killed her, if Laeta didn't intervene.
Sanus
Sanus (Anthony Ray Parker)
"I saw it with my own fucking eyes in the heat of battle blood and brains, thick to the knee and Gannicus in the middle of it all strips to his fucking cock! Bellowing to the Romans to kneel before him and receive golden tribute!"
Sanus is a Cilician rebel who is both a friend and admirer of Gannicus.
Belesa
Belesa (Luna Rioumina )
"Do not fall to the Romans, you wild cunt."
A Thracian slave girl first appearing in "Decimation", eventually becoming Saxa's lover.
- All Women Are Lustful: In her first appearance, she happily bares her breasts to show her Slave Brand to Saxa and Gannicus and states doesn't mind if they touch. She's later shown making out with Saxa in front of everyone.
- Ambiguously Bi: She is attracted to Saxa for sure, but she also looked at Gannicus in a very flirtatious manner.
- Bit Character: She only has about three lines, but has a handful of scenes where she's prominent as well as a few background appearances.
- Bury Your Gays: Averted; she's one of the few surviving rebels in the end.
- Canon Foreigner
- Earn Your Happy Ending: One of the few characters to survive and escape to freedom.
- Girl on Girl Is Hot: Gannicus certainly enjoyed seeing her and Saxa make out.
- Meaningful Name: Belesa means beauty, or pure beauty, in Portuguese and Spanish.
- Ms. Fanservice: Like all the other female characters.
- Neutral Female: Is not a fighter.
- Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: She is Thracian after all.
- Satellite Love Interest: Mainly to Saxa.
- Shameless Fanservice Girl: When first commanded to show her slave mark, she exposes her breasts to Saxa and Gannicus. Prompting him to quip they were "the most fearsome weapons yet exposed."
