Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Marcus Attilius lived and is regarded as arguably the greatest gladiator in Roman history. His exploits are shown in graffiti on the Nocerian Gate at the Southern end of the Pompeii ruins to this very day. This novel, the first in the series, chronicles his life before he was crowned, First Gladiator of Rome. Marcus serves six years as a legionnaire in the Fifth Legion in Judea fighting at the siege of Jerusalem and Masada after escaping Rome from a gambling debt. He is assisted by his uncle to join the Fifth before they embark for port of Caesarea Maritima and the march to the siege of JerusalemAt Jerusalem and Masada, he excels in battle and is promoted to Trarii, a decisive force in Roman battle, prompting an old Roman saying: res ad triarios venit, 'it comes down to the triarii'At Masada he is critically injured and repatriated from the Fifth to the island of Sicilia where he confronts his future as a wounded legionnaire with limited skill for anything other than battle in the legion.
Synopsis
This novel, the first novel of the life of Marcus Attilius, chronicles his life before he was crowned, First Gladiator of Rome. Marcus Attilius serves six years as a legionnaire in the Fifth Legion in Judea fighting at the siege of Jerusalem and Masada after escaping Rome from a gambling debt. He joins the Fifth before they embark for the port of Caesarea Maritima and the march to the siege of Jerusalem. At Jerusalem and Masada, he excels in battle and is promoted to Triarii, the fiercest soldiers in the Roman legions. At Masada he is critically injured where he confronts his future as a wounded legionnaire with limited skill for anything other than battle in the legion.