Nemetes

Nemetes

First appearance	S2E07: Sacramentum S3E01: Enemies of Rome
Last appearance	S3E05: Blood Brothers
Profession	Escaped Slave Rebel
Race	German
Relationships	Saxa (Ex-Lover/Friend, deceased) Lugo (Friend, deceased) Sedullus (Friend, deceased) Harudes (Comrade, deceased) Totus (Comrade, deceased) Donar (Rival/Comrade, deceased) Brictius (Comrade, deceased) Fabia (Victim, deceased) Julius Caesar (False Friend/Traitor) Crixus (Comrade, deceased)
Status	Deceased (Killed by Caesar)
Actor/Actress	Ditch Davey

Nemetes is a Germanic warrior captured by Romans and transported to Neapolis as a slave. He becomes a prominent but restless rebel under Spartacus' command.

Appearance

Nemetes is a man with a thin, yet muscular, build, with dirty blonde hair and beard. He has sub-par fighting skills, yet shows vast improvement in his continued training, showing advanced skill as he progresses. In War of the Damned, his hair and beard grow increasingly longer, he utilizes makeshift armor, and his weapon of choice becomes an axe but later he switches back to a sword.

Personality

He is considered one of the leaders of the Germanic rebels and commands some respect among their number. In Vengeance, Nemetes was often seen with his former lover Saxa, and was known as "little man" by Sedullus. Like the other Germanics, he is aggressive but pleasure-seeking, desiring drink and celebration with his kin. Nemetes is sly, cunning and quick-tempered and prone to making rash decisions, even if it would endanger the lives of others. He is hard-headed and full of confidence, despite his seemingly sub-par fighting skills and average size, and also demands respect from his peers, for he perceives himself as a victim of hierarchy. Even though he possesses a confrontational attitude, he was also a coward, best shown when he begged Julius Caesar to spare him and offered his service to him despite his hatred of Romans.

Later during the rebellion, Nemetes has become more bitterly hostile, and even cruel, towards the Romans, causing a captive Ulpianus to fight another Roman to the death over a loaf of bread. He also holds a dislike for Spartacus due to Spartacus' moral ideals, conflicting with Nemetes' own desires of bloodshed and vengeance. Nemetes is also self-interested and only cares to see himself rise in profit, and lacks effort in the rebel's cause of moral obligation.

Combat Prowess

Nemetes is an above average fighter, able to easily best typical Roman soldiers in combat. Originally, he favors the use of a single sword, yet following the growth of the rebellion he switches between using a sword as well as an axe in battle. Nemetes' skill in battle defines him as a leading figure among some of the Rebels. He has also shown skill in using the bow, presumably being taught by Mira.

Vengeance

Nemetes is one of the German slaves transported to Neapolis that is rescued by Spartacus and the rebels. Like the rest of his kin he displays a reckless attitude but is also boistorous. When things heated up and a fight broke out between the rebels and the Germans, he would fight Donar and the two would gain a grudge with one another. After Sedullus is killed by Spartacus, he along with the rest of the Germans reluctantly pledged loyalty to Spartacus.

Spartacus holds a contest where those who dislike each other fight in concert against others. He has Nemetes and Donar fight Nasir and Lugo, with the two winning and shedding some of their dislike.

Archery — Naevia, Nasir, Lugo, Mira and Nemetes defending the Temple.

When the Romans attack the temple, Nemetes joins as one of the defenders, using a bow and arrow. He would kill many Romans and watch as Spartacus brings forth a captive Publius Varinius, he commends his army on victory and has them gather their fallen enemies weapons stating "Now we have steel!". Spartacus tossed Nemetes a sword as proof, as he briefly got excited with this until Gaius Claudius Glaber attacked. Though he killed many Romans he was forced to the mountain top of Vesuvius with the other surviving rebels.

Nemetes' leads an attempt to break the Roman siege in Wrath of the Gods, which results in Harudes' capture and execution, as well as (indirectly) Mira's death.

Angered by Mira's death, Spartacus and Nemetes get into a fight where Spartacus hits him and places blame for Mira's death on Nemetes. The German, however, counters by saying Spartacus led them to this and at least Mira died a warrior while the rest of them are left to die more ignobly.

He later makes insulting remarks when Spartacus is mourning Mira's death. Hearing this, Saxa is disgusted by his lack of sympathy, suggesting that she is close to (if she hasn't already) ending their relationship. When Ashur approaches the Rebels upon the mountain to give terms of surrender, Nemetes speaks up, saying that he does not wish to die but that if it is to be so then he will die a free man. This causes the Rebels to cheer in agreement, so they stand next to Spartacus and refuse Roman dominance.

Rebelarmyveng — The Rebel Army cheer on Spartacus after their victory.

Nemetes ends up participating in the final battle, charging down Vesuvius to flank the Romans. He survives against Glaber's forces, and in the end cheers Spartacus on in the celebration for their victory.

War of the Damned

Following the months after Glaber's defeat at Vesuvius, Nemetes is active in the battle against Cossinius' forces. He now uses the securis to defeat his enemies and has grown a much larger beard.

When the Rebels besiege the Roman city of Sinuessa en Valle, Nemetes takes part as one of the many invaders. Using his sharpened skills, he easily bests the Romans he faces. He later attempts to execute Roman civilians alongside Sanus and Saxa until they are angrily ordered not to by Spartacus. Nemetes argues that they would not have shown them the same kindness but begrudgingly follows Spartacus' orders. He laters cheers in victory after Spartacus announces they have taken the city.

Nemetes drags the prisoners through the city and brings them to the rebel training grounds. He then sees Ulpianus and his wife, who is pregnant. At first, Nemetes seems to be offering his wife bread, but in fact extorts Ulpianus' money for it, then drops the bread on the ground, leaving Ulpianus and another Roman to fight over it. Crixus drags them both to their feet and makes them fight as gladiators for the bread. Nemetes simply laughs and watches.

When a deal between the pirates and rebels is to be made, Nemetes argues with Spartacus over having to give his coin towards the deal, but eventually agrees to it. Whilst Spartacus and others go out to make the deal, Nemetes is put in charge of the gate. After conflict is heard, Nasir desired to go outside with others to aid but Nemetes refuses and although he is chastised by the other rebels he is comended by Spartacus for following orders.

Nemetes grows further restless with Spartacus' morality as well as the loss of his coin, which he claims is "well-earned", although Donar admonishes him because it is stolen. He befriends a sly and coy Julius Caesar, who sneaks into the city under the guise of Lysiscus. As Nemetes gradually gets to know Caesar better, the German is interrogated by Crixus to find a reason for ending the Romans in the city, at which Nemetes voices his dissatisfaction with the rebel cause and his placement among them, resentment which Caesar takes advantage of. Nemetes later tries to have Caesar rape and abuse a Roman girl in a shed, who they have kept from Spartacus' knowledge, in order to prove his loyalty. Caesar, however, mercifully kills her instead. Nemetes is initially furious when he founds out, though after a moment laughs alongside Caesar and admires his 'brutality'.

Later, Nemetes and Caesar invent a story of how she attacked Nemetes and was killed by Caesar in Nemetes' self-defense. This leads Crixus to spur the rebels into a frenzy, claiming that it's time they end the Roman prisoners. Gannicus arrives, having learned the truth of Attius and fights Crixus, leading Gannicus to fight Crixus and Naevia. Nemetes attempts to attack Gannicus, but is then easily knocked back. When Nemetes is down, he gets strangled by a vengeful Fabia's brother, although Caesar throws a knife at Nemetes' attacker, killing him and saving Nemetes' life at the nick of time.

When Gannicus is hit with a rock from behind by Naevia, the rebels go on to slaughter the Roman prisoners, Nemetes is among them and takes pleasure in his deeds. He clashes briefly with Saxa, as she attempts to escort the survivors to Spartacus, and manages to kill Ulpianus. After Spartacus stops the chaos and admonishes them, Nemetes and the other rebels show contempt.

Afterwards, as Spartacus plans to set sail to supply the rebels with Crassus' food supplies, Nemetes continues to voice his dissatisfaction with Spartacus' moral code and disregard for rebels such as himself. Caesar only continues to fuel the flames of Nemetes and Crixus' growing restlessness, as the rebels notice Roman scouts miles away from the city. Nemetes looks on as a distressed Crixus rallies rebel support for his cause, although Spartacus returns in time to prevent him from opening the gates and engaging with the enemy. Spartacus releases the Roman prisoners, much to the dismay and anger of several rebels, Nemetes among the most vocal. While various rebels curse, shout, and even piss on the prisoners as they move past the gates, Nemetes confronts Laeta and threatens her, spitting in her face as Spartacus pushes him away.

While Spartacus and his generals plan on trapping Roman fleets with their intertwining force, Nemetes and Caesar are chosen among other rebels to go with Crixus on the opposite path of Spartacus. While Nemetes and two other rebels go to find Crixus, a passing-by Caesar is confronted as to where he is headed. Caesar explains to Nemetes his "bitterness" over Spartacus' leadership over them, trying to provoke Nemetes' own resentment over his position within the army.

As Nemetes contemplates having better circumstances, Caesar finally reveals his true colors, quickly finishing off the two other rebels before attacking Nemetes, who is outraged by the betrayal of the Roman. Outmatched by Caesar's skill with a sword, Nemetes realizes his end and pleads for his life, even going as far as to disregard the

entire rebel cause by offering Caesar his services instead. The unimpressed Caesar is amused by the offer but then declines it, as he slashes Nemetes' throat. The momentum forces Nemetes off a ledge, and falls to the concrete below. There, the dying Nemetes grasps for air, and drowns in his own blood. Caesar then spits on his corpse before leaving.

Brictius later mentions Nemetes, as well as Donar, to Castus as one of the hundreds of rebels who were killed by the Romans after being betrayed by the Cilician Pirates.

He is later mentioned by Saxa along with the names of fallen rebels at Crixus' funeral.

Trivia

Nemetes is played by Australian actor Ditch Davey.
His kidnapping and torture of Fabia is never discovered by Spartacus or the other rebels, as everybody who was involved ended up dead by Caesar's hand.
He was the fourteenth main character to be killed.
Similar to Naevia, Nemetes shows a more antagonistic role in season 3 but his actions were more selfish and crueler as he never once showed sympathy to anyone, whereas Naevia did.
Nemetes is one of characters and rebels hated in the show.
Historically, Nemetes was the Roman rendering of a native Germanic tribe whose territory was located in the modern Rhineland-Palatinate region, with their tribal centre located at Speyer (Noviomagus Nemetum). The Nemetes or Nemeti, along with the Germanic Triboci and the Vangiones, arrived in the region during the 60's BCE, as part of a larger military alliance under the leadership of the Suebi. Until that time, the ancient Rhineland-Palatinate was dominated by the Celtic Belgae tribe of the Mediomatrici, whose tribal center was at Metz (Dividorum Mediomatricum).
Even though it was the name of a historic Germanic tribe, the name Nemetes was directly related to the Celtic term Nemetum, meaning a temple or shrine. As the Nemetes tribe settled in a formerly Celtic-inhabited region in Germany, they may have derived their name from the specific location which was named for a place of worship by the Celtic Mediomatrici tribe.
The axe he uses during the first episodes of War of the Damned is very similar to Donar's Vengaence axe (if not the same). Donar uses a larger battle axe in War of the Damned, which backs up the theory that Nemetes was given the axe and learned to use it.
Nemetes was seen briefly in Vengeance using archery skills in defense of the temple at Vesuvius. The Latin word for archer is Sagittarius.
- In the reconstructed Proto-Germanic language, the term for archer may have been Skutjanz.