Oenomaus (Spartacus: Blood and Sand)

“	A gladiator does not fear death. He embraces it, caresses it, fucks it."	„
	― Oenomaus to Recruits

Oenomaus is a central character in Spartacus, serving as the gladiator trainer, or Doctore, in Batiatus' Ludus. As a young man, he was recruited by former lanista Titus Batiatus, whom he came to view as a father figure. After the downfall of the House of Batiatus, Oenomaus believed he had lost his purpose and sought death in The Pit. However, with Spartacus and the Rebels' support, he rediscovered his purpose and became a respected mentor within their ranks. He was married to Melitta before her untimely death.

Names	Oenomaus, Doctore, Addonexus
Gender	Male ♂
Race	Human
Occupation	Gladiator, Doctore, Rebel Leader
Origin	Spartacus: Blood and Sand Issue #4 (January, 2010)
Alignment	Good
Age	40s
Created By	Steven S, DeKnight
Height	191 cm (6ft 3in)
Weight	90kg (198.4 lbs) (14.17 st)
Personality Type	ISTJ, 1w9 (Enneagram)
Portrayed By	Peter Mensah Tapiwa Soropa (Young Oenomaus)

Appearance

Oenomaus is a tall, powerfully built man with dark skin and a bald head. He is almost always seen wearing his Doctore armor, which conceals three large scars from his battle with Theokoles. Another scar runs across the left side of his face. During a fight with The Egyptian, he loses his left eye. In his youth, he had short black hair and a leaner physique, coupled with an untamed, animalistic fighting style.

• 

  Young Oenomaus

Personality

Oenomaus is a man of unwavering principle. Since joining Titus Lentulus Batiatus' Ludus, he dedicated his life to upholding the honor of the House of Batiatus, a belief he held until its fall. As a gladiator, he values honor and brotherhood above all else and has little patience for those who disregard these ideals, such as Ashur and, initially, Spartacus.

Unlike his best friend Gannicus, who is carefree and boastful, Oenomaus is disciplined, composed, and reserved. He accepts his role as a slave without complaint and rarely questions his master's orders. However, he holds personal boundaries—viewing certain forced acts, such as orgies, as dishonorable—and even once questioned his master's decision regarding Barca's death. He is sharp-eyed, intelligent, and quick to detect deceit.

His deepest affection is reserved for his wife, Melitta, whom he continues to love long after her death.

After his near-fatal battle with Theokoles, Oenomaus carried deep shame despite being the only known survivor of a fight with the "Shadow of Death." Seeking redemption, he strove to regain favor in the Ludus, but instead, Batiatus named him Doctore. His shame only truly faded after one of his students, Spartacus, defeated Theokoles.

As Doctore, Oenomaus became a harsh but effective mentor, adopting the strict discipline of his own teacher, Ulpius. He trained recruits and gladiators with strict rules, harsh words, and, when necessary, physical punishment, using his whip to enforce order. Despite his severity, his goal was always to forge champions and bring honor to the House of Batiatus.

After the fall of Batiatus’ Ludus, Oenomaus felt lost. However, upon witnessing the cruelty of the Romans—save for Titus Batiatus—he ultimately joined the Rebellion, finding a new purpose.

His strongest bonds were with his wife, Melitta, and his closest friend, Gannicus. However, after discovering that they had shared a night together, he struggled with feelings of betrayal. This initially made him bitter toward both of them, though with time, he came to forgive them. Before his death, he finds peace in Gannicus' arms, content that he will finally reunite with his beloved wife in the afterlife.

Biography

Background

Little is known about Oenomaus’ past, as he considers his life before becoming a gladiator to be meaningless and rarely speaks of it.

As a young man, Oenomaus and several Numidians were condemned to fight in The Pits after being sold to the pit boss by Maalok. Despite his small size, he displayed extraordinary ferocity and skill, becoming the sole survivor. Adorned in white face paint, he fought against much larger opponents to the cheers of the crowd. He was eventually purchased from The Pits by Titus Lentulus Batiatus for eight denarii, during the youth of Quintus Lentulus Batiatus. Titus took great care in shaping Oenomaus into a gladiator, teaching him to fight for honor rather than mere survival. In time, Oenomaus chose to dedicate his skills to upholding the honor of the House of Batiatus.

Under the rigorous training of Titus' Doctore, Ulpius, Oenomaus rose through the ranks to become the Ludus’ Champion. As a reward for his achievements, he was granted Lucretia's body slave, Melitta, as his wife. Unlike many forced unions among slaves, their relationship blossomed into genuine love, though they were only permitted to be together once a week.

Respected by his fellow gladiators, Oenomaus formed strong bonds within the brotherhood, with his closest friendship being with Gannicus, a Celt. He also built lasting friendships with others such as Barca and Auctus. Uncommon for a gladiator, he maintained a close relationship with his Dominus, Titus Batiatus, whom he deeply respected.

At the height of his skill, Oenomaus was chosen to face Theokoles, the "Shadow of Death," the most feared gladiator of the time, in Pompeii. Despite his formidable abilities, he was ultimately no match for the monstrous warrior and suffered near-fatal wounds. However, he survived longer than any other opponent to face Theokoles. The spectators, impressed by his endurance, spared his life. Oenomaus later admitted that Theokoles never took him seriously and had merely toyed with him throughout the fight.

Following his defeat, Oenomaus became a more seasoned and hardened warrior, eventually ascending to the role of Doctore. Despite the loss, he often expressed a strong desire to challenge Theokoles again, believing that with his experience, he could emerge victorious.

Gods of the Arena

Oenomaus spent a year recovering from the wounds he suffered in his battle against Theokoles in Pompeii. Eager to return to the sands, he found himself constantly overshadowed by Batiatus' growing faith in Gannicus. Before he could reclaim his place as a gladiator, he was unexpectedly elevated to the role of Doctore by his master. This decision enraged the current Doctore, Ulpius, who challenged Oenomaus to a fight. In the ensuing battle, Oenomaus was forced to kill his mentor in self-defense. As he lay dying, Ulpius acknowledged that Oenomaus had learned well. During this time, Gannicus had already been named Champion of the Ludus, and Titus Batiatus had left for Sicily for his health—unaware that Lucretia was secretly poisoning him.

Initially, Oenomaus struggled to assert himself as Doctore. His reluctance to wield his whip or command authority led to disrespect and disobedience from the gladiators. It was only through Melitta’s encouragement that he embraced his role, finding the strength to demand the respect needed for his position. The first recruit he oversaw as Doctore was Crixus.

When Titus returned from retirement, he organized a competition to assess the worth of all the gladiators. Those who ranked well would become veterans, while the weakest would be sent to the Mines. During this event, Oenomaus discovered that Gannicus was to be sold. Desperate to prevent this, he pleaded with Titus to reconsider, leading to a compromise: if Gannicus won his final match, he would remain Champion. If he lost, he would be sold to Tullius. Knowing this, Gannicus deliberately threw the fight, choosing to be sold rather than endure his unspoken love for Melitta—a truth Oenomaus remained unaware of.

That night, tragedy struck. While Oenomaus and Quintus were away searching for medicine, Titus was poisoned by Lucretia, and Melitta was accidentally killed by tainted wine meant for Titus. Oenomaus returned home heartbroken, mourning the loss of both his beloved master and his wife.

After eight days of grieving, he was devastated to learn that Batiatus still intended to sell Gannicus. Confronting his friend, Oenomaus was shocked when Gannicus revealed that he had requested to be sold, hoping to get close enough to Tullius to kill him in revenge for Melitta’s death. Oenomaus, refusing to lose another loved one, tried to dissuade Gannicus from this reckless plan. Gannicus nearly confessed his affair with Melitta, but before he could, Batiatus interrupted with a new plan: instead of selling Gannicus, he would use him in a mission of vengeance against Tullius.

Oenomaus was among the gladiators selected—alongside Barca, Gnaeus, Gannicus, Ashur, and Rhaskos—to aid Batiatus in his revenge. Together, they ambushed Tullius, exacting brutal retribution before entombing his body beneath the new arena.

Before the inaugural games of the new arena, Oenomaus encouraged Gannicus to fight for the honor of the House of Batiatus. When Gannicus dismissed the idea, Oenomaus urged him instead to fight for Melitta’s memory. Stirred by this, Gannicus entered the battle against Caburus with renewed determination. Despite being beaten to the ground, he locked eyes with Oenomaus in a final moment of clarity, remembering his true purpose. In a stunning display, he killed Caburus and was awarded his freedom.

The next day, the gladiators celebrated Gannicus' victory. Oenomaus presented him with the rudis, the wooden sword symbolizing his freedom. In their final farewell, Gannicus assured Oenomaus that Melitta had always loved him above all others. The two embraced, believing it to be their last, before Gannicus departed, leaving his closest friend behind.

Blood and Sand

Doctore is portrayed as a formidable warrior throughout the series, earning the unwavering trust of Batiatus, who entrusts him with training the gladiators. He is a constant presence in the training yard, patrolling with authority, offering guidance, and enforcing discipline—using only his whip rather than a sword. Though he forms a bond with Crixus, it lacks the deep camaraderie he once shared with Gannicus.

He introduces Spartacus and the other recruits to the brutal life of a gladiator, subjecting them to grueling exercises and harsh verbal discipline. Initially, he holds little regard for Spartacus due to his insubordination and unpredictability. However, after the Thracian earns the mark of the brotherhood, Doctore begrudgingly acknowledges his potential.

Batiatus later tasks Doctore with training Crixus and Spartacus to fight as one against Theokoles, the legendary gladiator who had nearly killed him. Though he requests the chance to face the giant himself, Batiatus refuses, ordering him to prepare the two warriors instead. Despite believing their chances of victory to be slim, Doctore rigorously trains them. Both men fail to land a single blow against him, their rivalry hindering their cooperation. Frustrated, he removes his armor, revealing the scars inflicted by Theokoles—an act that finally commands their attention.

When the battle arrives, Crixus’ arrogance leads to his downfall, mirroring Doctore’s past defeat. Only through Spartacus’ relentless assault and Crixus’ last desperate stand is the giant slain. Crixus, however, is left gravely wounded.

As Spartacus secretly plans his escape upon Sura’s arrival, he realizes Doctore is the greatest obstacle in his path—possessing unmatched skill, a keen eye, and unwavering loyalty to Batiatus. To neutralize him, Spartacus offers him wine laced with a sleeping drug. Doctore initially refuses, revealing he has abstained from drinking since Melitta’s death. He briefly speaks of her before ultimately accepting the drink and collapsing. However, he awakens earlier than Spartacus anticipated and moves to confront him—only to stop upon witnessing Sura’s death. Seeing Spartacus’ grief, he momentarily sets aside discipline and walks away. Later, he punishes Spartacus through combat, testing his resolve. Despite Spartacus keeping up with him, he lacks the will to fight, eventually walking away—an incident never addressed again.

Doctore initially believes that Barca has bought his freedom, but when he learns that Barca’s lover, Pietros, was left behind, his suspicions arise. Questioning Naevia and Ashur, he notices inconsistencies in their accounts. The matter remains unresolved until Naevia, cast out for her affair with Crixus, reveals the truth—Barca was murdered under false pretenses, a scheme orchestrated by Ashur to avoid paying a debt. Doctore is horrified that a gladiator of such honor was discarded so easily, shattering his faith in Batiatus.

During Batiatus’ celebration for receiving patronage from Claudius Glaber, Doctore witnesses Roman guards abusing the gladiators and reports it to his master, only to be dismissed. He then confronts Batiatus about Barca’s murder, but Batiatus lies, claiming Barca disobeyed him. Sensing deceit, Doctore remains skeptical—especially of Ashur. To his surprise, Batiatus then reveals his plans to grant him freedom and entrust the ludus to him, addressing him by his true name: Oenomaus.

At the celebration, Doctore watches the deathmatch between Spartacus and Crixus. He senses something amiss when Crixus signals Spartacus, who uses the moment to leap onto the balcony and kill Sextus. As Spartacus turns to strike Batiatus, Doctore lashes his whip, catching his arm—momentarily saving his master. However, Crixus cuts the whip, joining Spartacus and the other gladiators in rebellion.

Doctore confronts Crixus, demanding answers. Crixus reveals Batiatus’ ultimate betrayals: Sura was murdered on his orders, and Crixus himself had been poisoned to ensure his death. Enraged, Doctore pursues Ashur to the gladiators’ baths, challenging him over his treachery. A brief duel ensues, with Doctore swiftly gaining the upper hand, denouncing Ashur’s cowardice. Ashur, pleading for an honorable death, suddenly strikes Doctore’s leg and flees. Despite his injury, Doctore chases Ashur into the courtyard, but Ashur escapes.

Doctore arrives as Aurelia slays Numerius and solemnly asks Spartacus, “How many more must die?” Spartacus responds, “I see but one.” He follows Spartacus into the villa, where Batiatus, cornered by the gladiators, pleads for his life—calling Oenomaus by his true name in desperation. Doctore remains silent, watching as Spartacus delivers the final blow. With Batiatus dead, he leaves the ludus alongside the gladiators and slaves, preparing to take their vengeance upon Rome.

Vengeance

Having renounced his title as Doctore, Oenomaus abandons his fellow slaves and wanders Capua in disguise, observing the arena games from the shadows. However, with both the houses of Solonius and Batiatus no longer supplying gladiators, the games have become lackluster compared to previous years.

One night, a group of men recognize Oenomaus and attempt to claim the bounty on his head. Though they try to kill him, he effortlessly slaughters them. At dawn, he witnesses the arrival of Praetor Gaius Claudius Glaber and his Roman soldiers, a force capable of crushing the rebel resistance. Realizing the imminent danger, Oenomaus seeks out Spartacus and the other rebels in the sewers, warning them of the impending attack, though he refuses to join their cause.

With no purpose left, Oenomaus willingly returns to "the only place left for an animal without honor": The Pit. Donning the white face paint once used to humiliate him, he fights under the alias Addonexus, seeking death in combat. His first opponent, Liberius, wounds him in the shoulder, but Oenomaus emerges victorious and demands more challengers. He continues battling relentlessly, too skilled and hardened to fall, until Caratacus nearly kills him with a hammer. Before the final blow is struck, Ashur leaps into the arena, slaying Caratacus and capturing his former teacher in his weakened state. Ashur, secretly working with Lucretia, presents Oenomaus to Glaber as a supposed gift from the gods.

In captivity, Oenomaus endures brutal torture at Ashur’s hands, who seeks to break him and extract Spartacus’ whereabouts. Oenomaus resists for hours, even causing Ashur’s arm to cramp from exhaustion. When Ashur, frustrated, attempts to kill him, Lucretia intervenes, revealing Oenomaus’ deepest betrayal: his wife Melitta’s secret affair with Gannicus. Ashur relays this revelation, enraging Oenomaus to the point that he unwittingly reveals Spartacus’ location.

Oenomaus, now imprisoned with Crixus, Rhaskos, and Acer, remains consumed by his wife’s betrayal. When Crixus tells him they have found Naevia, he dismisses the news, unable to think beyond Melitta’s infidelity. The prisoners are later paraded before Roman nobles, where Acer is tortured and executed, and Praetor Varinius condemns the rest to die in the arena.

Brought before the crowd, Oenomaus, Crixus, and Rhaskos are chained and given dull weapons, ensuring their inevitable deaths. They are stunned to see Gannicus fighting on the side of their executioners. When Crixus questions his motives, Oenomaus bitterly remarks that Gannicus is a man without honor. The two former brothers-in-arms face each other as Melitta had once feared. Oenomaus demands to know if Gannicus truly slept with Melitta on the night she died. Gannicus hesitates, and Oenomaus, taking his silence as confirmation, furiously attacks him, igniting the bloodshed. As they battle, the rebels hidden within the arena launch a surprise attack. Amidst the chaos, Oenomaus gains the upper hand against Gannicus but is interrupted by an enemy gladiator. The battle rages on until Spartacus and Agron bring down the arena, collapsing a canopy over them.

As the rebels strike down the remaining gladiators and guards, Spartacus and his men find Oenomaus unconscious at Gannicus’ mercy. Instead of finishing him, Gannicus helps carry him to safety, choosing to join the rebellion.

At the rebels’ hideout, Oenomaus recovers. Gannicus tries to explain that Melitta chose Oenomaus and was not at fault, but Oenomaus, still wounded by betrayal, scorns him. Despite this, he gradually regains his strength and embraces his former students, including Spartacus, as allies. He assumes a leadership role, training the rebels and maintaining discipline within their growing ranks.

As tensions rise between the rebels and the newly arrived Germanic warriors, Oenomaus plays a key role in maintaining order. When a fight breaks out, he easily overpowers any who challenge him, despite still recovering from his injuries. Eventually, he begins training the Germans and others in the ways of the gladiator.

When Gannicus returns with a captured Ilithyia, seeking forgiveness, Oenomaus coldly tells him there is nothing to forgive—he believes their brotherhood was always a lie. Later, Spartacus organizes a combat challenge to resolve tensions. Oenomaus and Gannicus are paired against Crixus and Agron. Fully healed, Oenomaus effortlessly defeats Agron, showcasing superior strength and skill. He and Gannicus work together, overwhelming their opponents and rekindling a small sense of trust.

As Glaber and Varinius attack the rebel stronghold, Oenomaus stands his ground. When Roman forces breach the temple walls, he slaughters numerous soldiers with ease. However, he soon faces a formidable opponent: the Egyptian. Armed with a single sword, Oenomaus battles fiercely, but the Egyptian’s dual daggers and superior speed begin to overwhelm him. Pinned against a pillar, Oenomaus suffers a devastating wound—one dagger through his hand, another through his eye, blinding him. Before the Egyptian can finish him, Gannicus intervenes, rescuing his friend and carrying him to safety through the tunnels.

Despite his injuries, Oenomaus recovers enough to fight again, now fully committed to Spartacus’ cause. Admiring Spartacus’ leadership, he plays a vital role in the rebels’ strategy. During the climactic battle against Glaber’s forces, Oenomaus leads a flanking attack. When Gannicus engages the Egyptian, he is quickly overpowered. As the Egyptian moves in for a killing blow, Oenomaus intervenes, saving his old friend. He lands a crippling wound on the Egyptian, knocking him down and declaring, "I owe you pain."

The Egyptian, severely wounded, continues fighting but is finally overwhelmed. As he parries an attack from Gannicus, Oenomaus attempts a downward strike but is fatally stabbed through the torso. Enraged, Gannicus brutally kills the Egyptian, then rushes to Oenomaus’ side. As he dies, Oenomaus, now at peace, speaks of reuniting with Melitta in the afterlife and promises to greet Gannicus as a brother when his time comes. He takes his final breath in Gannicus’ arms, dying with honor, dignity, and reconciliation with his closest friend.

Legacy

Though Oenomaus perishes in Vengeance, his influence endures throughout the final season. His death compels Gannicus to remain with the rebels, honoring his fallen friend. While Gannicus still harbors doubts about the cause, he fights in Oenomaus' name, though he continues to reject leadership. He also assumes Oenomaus' role as a guiding voice for Spartacus.

Before his own fall at the gates of Rome, Crixus delivers an impassioned speech to rally his troops, echoing Oenomaus’ words to the gladiator recruits. He openly acknowledges the former Doctore as a source of inspiration.

During the tribute games for Crixus, when Laeta questions why Gannicus—a free man—chooses to fight against the Republic, Spartacus explains that he does so to honor Oenomaus' memory, referring to him as the man who taught him and many others how to fight.

At Crixus’ funeral pyre, the rebels solemnly call out the names of their fallen comrades. Among them, Gannicus proudly shouts Oenomaus’ name, ensuring his legacy is not forgotten.

In his final moments, as Gannicus hangs upon the cross, he envisions Oenomaus smiling at him, an arena roaring in his honor. With this vision of glory, he dies content, his spirit forever bound to the brotherhood they once shared.

Historicity

Beyond Spartacus, Crixus, Gannicus, and Castus, Oenomaus is one of the few individuals explicitly named in historical records as having escaped from the ludus of Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Batiatus. He is identified as one of the primary leaders of the rebellion, alongside Spartacus and Crixus.

While the show depicts Oenomaus as being of Numidian descent, historical accounts suggest he was likely of Gallic or broader Celtic origin, similar to Crixus and Gannicus. His recorded name, "Oenomaus," is Greek, implying that it may have been assigned to him after his enslavement—assuming he was freeborn rather than a verna (a slave born into servitude).

Historically, Oenomaus likely played a role in the rebels' early victories, most notably in the defeat of Praetor Gaius Claudius Glaber at Mount Vesuvius. However, after this battle, his name disappears from historical records, suggesting he may have perished in a subsequent engagement. It is possible that he fell during the winter of 73–72 BC when the growing rebel force was raiding cities and towns across southern Italy. Although no definitive account of his death exists beyond the spring of 73 BC, his early demise in the show remains a plausible interpretation.

Powers and Statistics

Tier: 9-B

Powers and Abilities: Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Expert Swordsman, Adept in Unarmed Combat, High Pain Tolerance, Indomitable Will

Attack Potency: Wall level (Defeated Spartacus and Crixus at the same time, fought Gannicus, survived fighting Theokoles )

Speed: Peak Human

Lifting Strength: Unknown

Striking Strength: Wall level

Durability: Wall level (Survived fighting Theokoles)

Stamina: High

Range: Standard Melee Range

Standard Equipment: Sword and Shield

Optional Equipment: Whip, Dual Swords

Intelligence: Above Average

Weaknesses: None Notable

Trivia

• While Oenomaus is depicted as younger than his Doctore in the show, Mensah is actually two years older than Temuera Morrison.
• In The Shadow of Death comic, Oenomaus fights Theokoles as a Dimachaerus (dual-wielding swords), whereas in the Shadow Games flashback, he is shown as a Murmillo (wielding a single sword and shield).
• Oenomaus was the tenth main character to die in the series.
• He is the only major heterosexual male character known to have been with only one woman.
• His alias in the Pits, "Addonexus," loosely translates to "Deathbringer."
• Titus Batiatus regarded Oenomaus as the finest champion in the House of Batiatus, and the two shared a close bond.
• Titus viewed Oenomaus as a second son and had always intended for him to become Doctore. The show's creators even considered a storyline in which Titus' dying wish was for Oenomaus to inherit the ludus, though Quintus Batiatus ultimately had his own ambitions. Nevertheless, Quintus still planned to entrust the ludus to Oenomaus once he advanced into political office.
• Historically, freed gladiators could become lanistae (gladiator trainers), meaning that had Oenomaus been granted his freedom and inherited the ludus, he would have taken on the personal and clan name of his former master, becoming Quintus Lentulus Oenomaus.
• In the Spartacus: Blood and Sand – Behind the Scenes featurette, Peter Mensah stated that Oenomaus was born into the ludus, though later episodes reveal that Titus Batiatus found and purchased him from the Pits. This suggests that Mensah's statement was based on an early, undeveloped backstory.
• The title Doctore is Latin for "teacher" or "instructor."
• As a former champion of the House of Batiatus, he would have been referred to as Campionem in Latin.
• Though labeled as Numidian in the show, ancient Greeks and Romans typically used the term "Ethiopian" as a broad designation for Black Africans. However, Oenomaus could still have Numidian roots, as the Numidians were part of the Amazigh (Berber) peoples, which included sub-groups like the Tuaregs, Riffians, Kabyle, and Chaoui, spanning modern-day Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. The term "Libyan" was more specifically applied to North African groups such as the Numidians, Maures, Garamantes, and Gaetulians.
• Given that Numidia was a Berber kingdom encompassing parts of modern Algeria and Tunisia, Oenomaus, from a present-day perspective, could be considered to have originated from one of these regions.
• In Greek mythology, Oenomaus was the name of a king of Pisa in the western Peloponnese, son of Ares and the nymph Harpina. His legendary chariot race against Pelops—who sought the hand of his daughter, Hippodamia—was one of the inspirations for the Olympic Games.