Donar
First appearance	S2E01: "Fugitivus" S3E01: "Enemies of Rome"
Last appearance	S3E06: Spoils of War (Alive) S3E07: Mors Indecepta (Corpse)
Profession	Gladiator (House of Batiatus) Escaped Slave Rebel
Race	German
Relationships	Agron (Friend) Fulco (Friend, deceased) Lydon (Friend) Spartacus (Friend, deceased) Gannicus (Friend, deceased) Saxa (Friend, deceased) Lugo (Friend, deceased) Chadara (Former Sexual Partner, deceased) Nemetes (Rival/Comrade, deceased)
Status	Deceased (Suicide)
Actor/Actress	Heath Jones

Donar is a former gladiator from Batiatus' Ludus. He escapes with Spartacus following the revolt, and becomes one of the top warriors among the rebellion's ranks.

Contents 1 Appearance 2 Personality 3 Combat Prowess 4 Vengeance 5 War of the Damned 6 Trivia 7 Quotes 8 References 9 Comments

AppearanceEdit

Donar is one of the stronger and more capable fighters amongst the rebels, and is taller than most men, carrying a large muscular build. He has short, dark-blonde hair and carries subtle facial hair. He wears an attire akin to the rest of the escaped Gladiators. He originally wields a small two-handed axe, but later comes into possession of a much larger one.

PersonalityEdit

Sarcastic in his speech and caustic in his comments, Donar is a sardonic German who often cracks jokes about others. Donar is typically quick with insults and comebacks, yet his opinionated nature generally leaves him in conflict with others.

Like his friend Agron, Donar has a particular distaste for the Gauls, and likes to provoke them as often as he can. Also just like many of the former gladiators, he has an affinity for drink and women, and enjoys fighting. Donar is confrontational and hot-headed, but is also loyal and determined to those he follows.

In War of the Damned, Donar showcases an even more honorable side to him, opposing the various atrocities committed by rebel factions and devoting himself to the ideals of Spartacus. committed, while he does believe in the rebel cause, Donar does not believe his life is of equal worth, and is willing to be sacrificed it if the occasion calls for the moment.

Donar has leadership skills, as he generally is given the duty of training the slaves how to fight, as well as taking part in the more difficult missions that the rebels go on.

Combat ProwessEdit

Instructed in the ways of a gladiator, Donar is a testament of true skill in battle. While adeptly skilled with the use of a sword, Donar's choice of weapon is the axe, which he uses with deadly purpose. Despite the axe's weight and size, Donar is able to effectively use the weapon to his advantage, being able to take out others with swifter weapons and quickly overpower his enemies with his immense strength.

VengeanceEdit

Donar is one of the gladiators who escaped Batiatus' Ludus with Spartacus. He is friends with Agron and Spartacus, and of high rank among the rebels. As with Agron, Donar has a strong distaste for the Gauls, and tends to provoke conflict with them, furthering the cultural rift between the rebels. Donar helps Spartacus and Agron in fighting against the Romans and mercenaries sent after them. He also often acts as something of a scout leader amongst the

rebels, generally moving ahead of the group when recon is needed. Donar aids the rebels in their taking of a villa and freeing all of the slaves. Afterwords, Donar is put in charge of helping train the new additions. When Nasir makes attempt on Spartacus' life, Donar believes that Nasir should be "put down", as he may try it again. When conflict comes between between the rebels after Crixus and Agron fight over deception in the group, Donar moves on with Agron and his party to Vesuvius. After Spartacus, Mira, Nasir, and Naevia escape from the mines, albeit with over half of their group either lost or killed, they regroup with Agron and Donar's group. Donar then fondly greets Spartacus and Mira on their reunion.

Donar would scout ahead with Fulco and Lydon and discover a temple at Vesuvius belonging to Lucius. This temple would later become the rebels' sanctuary.

Donar is one of rebels present during the assault on the Capua Arena, and aids in successfully bringing it down, as well as saving Crixus and Oenomaus. He would later be telling the story of their glorious victory to the other rebels, inciting passion and emotion from the gathered crowd.

Afterwards, Dona

r catches the eye of Chadara, who is now without Rhaskos due to his fall in the arena. Although he previously bedded with her, Donar does not wish to pursue a relationship with her, and scoffs at the idea of it. These stinging words would then, in part, later convince Chadara to betray the rebels and steal their map and coin. When Mira accidentally kills Chadara and explains that she only sought a place

in this world, Donar seems to feel guilty for his mistreatment of her. After Gannicus joins the rebel group, Donar's role as the third right-hand man would transfer to the former champion, although Donar would still maintain prominence with the rebels. Donar would continue to train the other rebels, and regularly go out hunting in order to provide food and supplies for the group at

their new sanctuary.

Donar would accompany Spartacus, Agron, and Lucius to Neapolis and rescue a group of German Slaves from the ship they are imprisoned in. As he is German, it is most likely that he quickly bonded with the rest of his kin, though his loyalty is devoted to Spartacus; when tensions rise between the Germans and the rebels and a fight breaks out, he fights alongside the rebels against the Germans, despite them being his kinsmen.

Later, when Donar is out in the woods to relieve himself, he is attacked by Spartacus, Crixus, and Gannicus dressed as Roman soldiers, although this was a test to see how prepared the rebels are in fighting the Romans. Donar then participates in a series of training sessions and battle, along with partying, designed to raise the spirits of the rebels.

When the actual

Roman's invade the temple, led by Varinius, Donar is among one of the rebels chief defenders. Alongside Crixus and Agron, Donar jumps into the direct path of the Roman invaders and begins to fight valiantly. When Glaber's forces begin to invade as a separate wave, the rebels begin to flee the temple underground. Donar aids in the escape of many rebels, and is one of the few fighters to survive the combat.

After settling in the mountains, and after saving the German splinter squad that tried an invasion of Glaber's forces (albeit with Mira's death), Donar and the rebels are low on food and supplies, and need a way to fight back. After Spartacus comes up with a plan to assault the Romans down belong, Donar aids in the making of the ropes to allow Spartacus, Crixus, Agron, and Gannicus down to flank Glaber and his men. Led by Oenomaus, the rest of the rebels move down to mountain and begin slaughtering the Romans. With his axe, Donar takes the lives of many Romans, and witnesses the defeat of Glaber by Spartacus. The rebels remain triumphant, and celebrate their cause, now inflamed by their victory.

War of the DamnedEdit

Donar continues to serve the Rebels army faithfully. He participates in the battle against Cossinius' forces, killing many Romans with a much larger axe.

Similar to before, Donar remains in charge of training the rebels, but now also takes part in the recruitment alongside Agron and Nasir. While Nasir tests the recruits in combat, Donar and Agron analyze their potential and determination.

Donar informs Spartacus to the shady dealings happening around the rebel's camp, which ultimately leads Spartacus to see that things in the camp aren't good and that life is difficult for those fleeing to

his cause.

When the rebels besiege the Roman city, Donar joins the battle and easily slays many Romans with his axe.

Donar later begins taking inventory of the available food. He expresses concern to Spartacus that they only have enough for a few weeks. After pirates are spotted near the city, he goes with Spartacus to meet with them. After deals have been made, he takes to drink with his fellows.

When Agron gets into a fight with the pirate, Castus, Donar attempts to stop the fight, but eventually ends up letting them fight it out, leading to Agron's easy victory. When Spartacus is to make a deal with the pirates outside of the city, Donar is selected among others to join him. When the they are ambushed by Romans, the two foes fight their common enemy and prove themselves victorious in the fight.

Donar and Saxa express dislike at keeping Roman prisoners but at the same time both do not approve of the mistreatment. When Crixus rallies the rebels to slaughter the surviving prisoners, Donar does not take part in the slaughter. As a result he along with: Gannicus, Nasir, Saxa, Sibyl, Agron (albeit reluctantly) and Spartacus are part of a minority who do not desire needless slaughter.

With Agron and Nasir, Donar stays at Spartacus' villa in order to protect the surviving Romans though he and Agron both express their contempt for them and their loyalty to Spartacus.

After Heracleo betrays the rebels, Romans begin to swarm into the city. Donar, Saxa and Agron are the only three at the gate when Julius Caesar appears with a clutch of soldiers. The three of them manage to best the Roman group and Donar ensures the gate could not be opened by cutting the portculus' rope. Donar and Agron then combine their skills against Caesar and manage to best him, but before they can inflict death the gate is broken down and Caesar warns them to run.

Donar retreats along with Agron and Saxa but when Gannicus offers to create a diversion to help Spartacus reach the north gate safely. Donar lingers and stays by his side saying his death would be of lesser concern than gannicus'. The two kill many Romans but Donar is grievously wounded and falls, believed dead by Gannicus.

He is revealed to be alive and is found by group of Romans. He curses their bird before being knocked out and captured by the Romans who keep him alive (by sewing up his wound). Donar is later prepared for the executions for the surviving rebels during the Romans' celebration. Donar watches angrily as the Romans massacre their other captives, and is kept for the end for Caesar to kill. He screams out that he'd prefer to die fighting and Tiberius, in an attempt to kill Caesar, unchains Donar. As Caesar is about to kill him, Donar breaks loose and strikes Caesar with his shackles. Crassus commands him killed but Caesar objects and instead decides t

o fight him to the death. Cornered and angry, Donar presents a fierce challenge b

ut is eventually overcome when Caesar strikes at his wound. In parting words, Caesar tells him he fought well but Donar tells him to "Swallow cock you Roman sh**", which angers Caesr who moves to deliver the killing blow, however Donar takes his own life with a sword through the neck, dying at the dignity of his own hand rather than the

Romans.

Later in the snowy mountains, the rebels sneak into Crassus' tent in an attempt to assassinate him, only to find Donar's naked body crucified within. "Mors Indecepta" (Death is Indeceivable) is carved on his chest, serving as a warning to Spartacus before Crassus' trap is sprung.

At the tribute games to honor Crixus his name was shouted by Lugo to honor him.

TriviaEdit

• Heath Jones, the actor who plays Donar is 188cm tall (6'2")
• His name, Donar, suggests he is Germanic in origin. Donar is the name of the Germanic deity of thunder and lightning, akin to the Nordic God Thor. Both names share a common etymological root.
  • Donar may come from the lands of the Chatti tribe. Donar's namesake (Donar/Thunrez/Thunor/Thor) was possibly a patron god to the Chatti tribe, whose territory was located in the northern and central parts of the modern Hesse region in Germany. Donar's Oak, a sacred tree and a centre of worship to the Germanic Chatti, was located on the site of the modern German city of Fritzlar.
• Donar's choice of an axe as a weapon (while most of his fellow rebel gladiators wield swords) suggests that his former gladiator fighting style was Secutor (althought he has shown skill on sword, even rivaling Caesar).
• Although it is said that Donar escaped from the Ludus with Spartacus and the others, his character makes no appearance in the first season, technically debuting in the second. This is the case with many of the gladiators presented in season two.
• An interview with Steven S. DeKnight reveals that Donar was created specifically to have been killed off in Spartacus: Vengeance, but this was later scrapped.
• Donar's body is crucified and presented to the rebels as a warning. Historically, it was the other way around. Spartacus had a Roman captive crucified in plain sight of the Roman army. It served as a message that the rebels would show the Romans no mercy nor expect any.
• Donar was the fifteenth main character to be killed.
  • Donar is the third, and last, character to commit suicide, the others being Lucretia and Pietros.

QuotesEdit

"I believe the man is dead."
—Donar to Agron

"Should've put the boy down. A dog bites once, it will bare fucking teeth again."
—Donar to Agron regarding Nasir

"You had me at whores."
—Donar to Spartacus

"If any of you hold faith in any gods, this will be the time to fucking entreat them"
—Donar to Rebels

"Two against an army. I do not care for your odds."
—Donar to Spartacus

"We lay together once and you expect us to never be parted? You mistake me for a fucking Gaul.
—Donar to Chadara

"If that man proves assasin, then I'm Jupiter's fucking cock."
—Donar to Saxa

"My passing would be of even lesser concern than yours."

-Donar to Gannicus

"Fuck your little bird, you Roman cunt."
—Donar to Roman soldiers

"Swallow cock, you Roman shit!"
—Donar to Caesar; his last words

ReferencesEdit