Gannicus

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Gannicus († 71 BC ) was one of the leaders known by name of the Spartacus slave revolt in the years 73 to 71 BC. Other variations of his name are Gaius Cannicius ( Greek Γάιος Καννίκιος Gaios Kannikios ) in Plutarch and Cannicum or Cannici in Frontin .  

From the traditions it is not clear whether Gannicus was one of the gladiators who escaped with Spartacus from the gladiator school of Batiatus in Capua . Together with Castus he presented himself in 71 BC. At the head of a slave army consisting mainly of Gauls and Teutons , which had separated from the main army led by Spartacus. According to various sources, this army comprised between 12,300 and 35,000 escaped slaves . At the foot of Mount Camalatrum they were put to battle by a Roman army delegation under Gaius Pomptinius and Quintus Marcius Rufus, who had been sent by Marcus Licinius Crassus , and were defeated. According to the authors, almost all slaves were killed. According to Plutarch's embellished description, all the slaves of Gannicus and Castus had received their fatal wounds from the front, that is, out of the direct duel, which was to underline their extraordinary bravery. Only two fell from wounds in the back. The Romans for their part recaptured 5 legionary eagles and 26 standards with this victory .

Shortly after the battle of the Camalatrum, Crassus defeated the slave army of Spartacus in the second battle of the Silarus .

Movie

In the monumental film adaptation Spartacus (1960) by Stanley Kubrick , the role of "Gannicus" is played by the American actor Paul Lambert , in the television adaptation Spartacus (2004) by Paul Telfer . In the television series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011), Spartacus: Vengeance (2012) and Spartacus: War of the Damned (2013), this role is played by the Australian actor Dustin Clare .

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literature

personal data
SURNAME Gannicus
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gaius Cannicius; Cannicum; Cannici
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Leader in the Third Slave War
DATE OF BIRTH 2nd century BC BC or 1st century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 71 BC Chr.