Ludus of Lentulus Batiatus

The Ludus belonging to Lanista Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Batiatus (or the ***Familia Gladiatoria Lentuli Batiati Vatiae***), was located in the city of Capua. It housed and trained all of his Gladiators. , and was stationed close to his Villa. A few of the Gladiators known from his ludus were **Spartacus**, **Crixus**, **Oenomaus**, **Gannicus** and **Castus**.

The ludus was located just outside of Batiatus' villa, where he, his house slaves and his family resided.

## Description

The Ludus was stationed close to Batiatus' own Villa, at least a hundred yards away. The gated entrance of the Ludus led straight to the training area of the Gladiators, leading towards the eating area. Below the training area were the cells where each Gladiator was kept, with slightly more liveable rooms for the more important and famed Gladiators, including the Doctore, who's own quartered were stationed close to the entrance of the training area. The cells and rooms were arranged around the bathing area.

Batiatus' Villa was lavish, befitting for a Roman citizen of moderate standing. There was also a general social area with an ornamental pool in the center and leading off from this are various other rooms, including Batiatus' sleeping quarters and a large pool that serves as the bathing quarters.

## History

### Founding

The Ludus was founded sometime around 200 BC, shortly after Capua's Arena was constructed. Marcus Lentulus Vatia founded the Ludus. For many decades, the Ludus supplied the Arena of Capua with many notable Gladiators.

Batiatus' Ludus also supplied the cities' first Retiarius, and held a strong reputation for training. New recruits were put through rigorous tests and training to prove they were fit as Gladiators (similar to a modern day Hazing process), while those who weren't were either sold to the lesser Lanista in Capua or Rome, or were sold to Latifundium to be trained as *Pastores*.

### 73 BC

In 73 BC, during the dead of night, three of Batiatus' Gladiators, Spartacus, Crixus and Oenomaus led the other Gladiators in a breakout from the Ludus, and began pillaging the nearby villas and estates. This breakout would eventually lead to a slave rebellion known to history as the Third Servile War.

#### 71 BC and Later Decline

Following the end of Spartacus' rebellion, Batiatus would hire twice as many guards, barely allowing his Gladiators to speak inside his ludus, especially those who spoke the same native language. Despite these extra precautions, he was forced to face years of social mockery, with his Ludus rarely being considered for Capua's Gladiatorial games. Any and all trained Gladiators who showed above average skill were quickly sold to another Lanista in order to make ends meet financially for him and his family.

## Inhabitants

### Villa

Batiatus' villa was located close to the Ludus.

#### Residents

* Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Batiatus
* Aurelia Varia
* Gnaeus Batiatus
* Marcus Batiatus

#### Slaves

##### ***Famulus*** (House Slaves)

1. Thessela
2. Amoebe (and *Concubina*)
3. Icliope
4. Nirone
5. Aelinia

### Ludus

Before the rebellion, Batiatus had employed around 30 guards to maintain his ludus. Around 200 Gladiators resided inside the ludus and around 30 house slaves lived in the Villa along with Batiatus and his family.

#### Batiatus' Gladiators

1. **Spartacus** (Thracian, ***Murmillo***)
2. **Crixus**(Gallic, ***Murmillo***)
3. **Gannicus**(Gallic, ***Samnite***)
4. **Castus**(Gallic, ***Secutor***)
5. **Oenomaus**(Germanic, ***Hoplomachus***)
6. Carbo (Roman, ***Murmillo***)
7. Aphycos (Greek, ***Murmillo***)
8. Liccaius (Illyrian, ***Murmillo***)
9. Paccius (Roman, ***Murmillo***)
10. Nassos (Greek, ***Murmillo***)
11. Drapaes (Thracian, ***Hoplomachus***)
12. Narto (Roman, ***Hoplomachus***)
13. Quinintus (Sicilian, ***Hoplomachus***)
14. Masanabus (Numidian, ***Hoplomachus***)
15. Mocottius (Sicilian, ***Retiarius***)
16. Aharros (Egyptian, ***Retiarius***)
17. Paxxos (Thracian, ***Retiarius***)
18. Kleitos (Greek, ***Thraex***)
19. Nyctimus (Dacian, ***Thraex***)
20. Phatanion (Greek, ***Thraex***)
21. Pattaulus (Illyrian, ***Thraex***)
22. Inphion (Greek, ***Secutor***)
23. Assarbus (Sardinian, ***Secutor***)
24. Crito (Roman, ***Secutor***)
25. Aisilliscus (Thracian, ***Secutor***)
26. Hassalius (Hispanicus, ***Secutor***)
27. Abiron (Germanic, ***Dimachaerus***)
28. Docryx (Greek, ***Dimachaerus***)
29. Scirrhus (Dacian, ***Dimachaerus***)
30. Cynbenius (Sicilian, ***Samnite***)
31. Fulco (Germanic, ***Scissor***)
32. Ciphon (Greek, ***Scissor***)
33. Dibtos (Thracian, ***Scissor***)
34. Physpas (Sicilian, ***Samnite***)
35. Obbirus (Egyptian, ***Arbelas***)
36. Kraynos (Numidian)
37. Thiamakos (Greek)
38. Ectenes (Greek)
39. Ophytius (Thracian)
40. Thebbilos (Greek)
41. Sebillus (Sicilian)
42. Lydon (Hispanicus)
43. Chilonidus (Thracian)
44. Liggurix (Gallic)
45. Vennonius (Gallic)
46. Omarco (Phoenician)
47. Hrostus (Gallic)
48. Betilius (Roman)
49. Biantos (Hispanicus)
50. Drasbus (Numidian)
51. Myrmex (Greek)
52. Seggirix (Gallic)
53. Koinos (Thracian)
54. Vulco (Germanic)
55. Acontus (Greek)
56. Xiontus (Greek)
57. Astibios (Greek)
58. Poluktos (Numidian)
59. Cottus (Greek)
60. Eigyrus (Gallic)
61. Carraix (Gallic)
62. Lannos (Hispanicus)
63. Linonitus (Greek)
64. Magiyon (Thracian)
65. Maccianus (Hispanicus)
66. Oannus (Assyrian)
67. Masemdus (Numidian)
68. Jarascos (Hispanicus)
69. Trurgix (Gallic)

#### Former Gladiators (*Rudiarii*)

* Trius (Greek, ***Murmillo***)
* Ucceius (***Hoplomachus***)