Marcus Decius Solonius
First appearance	S0E01: Past Transgressions S1E01: The Red Serpent
Last appearance	S1E12: Revelations
Profession	Lanista
Race	Roman
Relationships	Quintus Lentulus Batiatus (Former Friend/Rival, deceased) Lucretia (Former Friend, deceased) Lysimachus (Gladiator, deceased) Caburus (Gladiator, deceased) Arkadios (Gladiator, deceased) Theokoles (Hired Gladiator, deceased) Kastor (Servant, deceased) Vettius (Rival) Tullius (Rival, deceased) Titus Calavius (Friend, deceased) Ovidius (Friend, deceased)
Status	Deceased (Killed by Spartacus)
Actor/Actress	Craig Walsh Wrightson

 Marcus Decius Solonius is a Lanista of Capua and is Batiatus' nemesis and chief rival.

Contents 1 Appearance 2 Personality 3 Combat Prowess 4 Gods of the Arena 5 Blood and Sand 6 Trivia 7 Quotes 8 References

AppearanceEdit

Solonius is a lean man with tidy blonde hair and appears to be middle-aged, older than Batiatus. Despite this he has a surprisingly toned build in terms of muscle (though nowhere near the build of a Gladiator). Likewise, he wears an attire akin to that of someone of a rich lifestyle.

PersonalityEdit

Solonius is Batiatus' main rival when it comes to training gladiators. He is a wily man, equal in cunning to Batiatus, and the two compete to become the best lanista in Capua. Solonius, like Batiatus, is never afraid to revert to more dubious means to get what he wants..

Initially, in Gods of the Arena, he and Batiatus were good friends. While Batiatus was more aggressive, Solonius tried to work his way up through more cautious methods. Their friendship had deteriorated after Solonius realized that he was being used by Batiatus and had went against a plan the two had formed in order to "make a name for oneself".

Combat ProwessEdit

Despite not being a gladiator and only having one match in the entire series, Solonious has proven that he carries a decent capacity for swordplay, something  which even Spartacus noted. However, ultimately Solonious is of no threat to trained gladiators.

Gods of the ArenaEdit

Solonius is a low-level lanista and close friend to Batiatus. They both are left in t

he lower venues in comparison to their rival, Vettius. The two wish to become better involved with the gladitorial games and while Solonius wishes to take a more slower approach, Batiatus prefers more aggressive and scheming measures.

Worried for Batiatus after he is brutally beaten by men of Vettius and Tulllius, a high-class merchant who is building the new Capua Arena, sends message for advice to Batiatus' father, Titus which unintentionally brings him back to Capua. During this time Solonius acts on behalf on his friend, Batiatus, but also keeps in contact with Tullius in order to ensure that he will still be able to enter gladiators in the arena.

Later, Titus is killed by wine (Poisioned by Lucretia), however it is believed to be the work of Tullius and so Batiatus seeks revenge on the man for all the grievance they suffer. Solonius believes Batiatus mad and an argument ensues with Batiatus claming that Solonius has never done what he must to make a name in this world. Their argument has been put to ease by Lucretia and Batiatus apologizes. The two then go off to plan what their move against Tullius would be.

Solonius later goes to Tullius and Vettius after Batiatus refused to sell them Gannicus, a gladiator of great skill desired by the duo, which sends Tullius in a rage. Solonius tells Tullius at how Batiatus moves to sell Gannicus to a Syrian at the edge of the city so that Tullius could never have Gannicus. Tullius, Vettius and Solonius then gather men to meet Batiatus and end things.

It is later revealed to be a trap, conjured by Batiatus and Solonius, as several gladiators appear from the shadows and a brawl in the street breaks out. Batiatus and his men take Tullius to exact their revenge on him whilst Solonius takes Vettius hostage in order to negotiate deals with him.

Before the Games of the New Arena begin, both Batiatus and Solonius sit in the polvinus after maneauvering their way up. Vettius arrives saying how he is retiring as a lanista and goes to follow Tullius (Who in reality was killed by Batiatus and his gladiators) to a distant city.

Batiatus makes comment that he and Solonius will split Vettius' men, however it appears that Solonius has already take care of that part by securing all of Vettius' men. When Batiatus questions Solonius on this he reveals his true thoughts of Batiatus and that he was tire

d of being pushed around all the time. This creates a bitter rivalry that would then take hold of the two them for years to come.

During the games the two lanista's hold the most men in the Primus and are to battle one another. Batiatus has 7 men while Solonius has 13 so it is believed that the latter's house would be victorious. Despite a close fight the gladiator Gannicus is victorious and as a result Batiatus gains victory over Solonius.

Solonius, however, makes one final strike at Batiatus before the end and convinces the Magistrate, Sextus, to grant freedom to Gannicus. This makes Batiatus lose his best gladiator and forces him to put his eyes on another who may rise in the future.

Blood and SandEdit

Solonius enjoys high

er regard as a lanista in Capua than Batiatus does in this time period, with Solonious continually taunting Batiatus with power. This warps in the other direction over time, with Batiatus first striking luck when he buys Spartacus for his ludus. When Solonius realizes he is losing standing, he asks Ovidius to dispose of Batiatus for him, not risking it himself so that the murder could not be traced. Ovidius sends slaves from Remus to attack Batiatus in the Pit, almost succeeding save for Spartacus' intervention. Batiatus discovers who the slaves belonged to and takes vengeance on both Remus, who admits to Ovidious as a culprit, and Ovidius and his family. Eventually, Batiatus discovers Solonius was behind it. A silent battle wages between the two lanista. Solonius attempts to secure a win over Batiatus' gladiators by buying Theokoles, the legendary undefeated giant, but after long preparation and hard training, Crixus and Spartacus manage to defeat him. Batiatus never mentions that he knows of Solonius' attempt on his life but hints at it and devises a plan to undermine him. Solonius, on the other hand, tries to convince Ashur that

he would better off without Batiatus and working with Solonius. Ashur appears to fall gradually for this offer, much to Solonius' delight. He tells Solonius of Batiatus' plot to kill Solonius but then mentions that he has bigger things to deal with afterwards. Solonius learns that Calavius' disappearance is due to Batiatus and follows Ashur down into the sewers to free him. There it is revealed that Ashur had been plotting with Batiatus all along, and Batiatus leads the guards into the sewers, where they discover Solonius with Calavius' dead body and he is falsely accused. As punishment for his "

wrongdoings", Solonius' is sent to the arena to be executed by a gladiator; ironically, Spartacus is chosen as executioner. He is seen to have some knowledge of fighting, but proves no match for the Thracian, who easily cuts through Solonious with several slashes. Sliced up and gutted, Solonious falls to his knees in defeat and recalls the sound of the crowd as being glorious, before telling Spartacus he has chosen the wrong path with Batiatus. His last moments are joyous, as he discovers that Spartacus plots Batiatus' downfall, and Solonius dies laughing as he is beheaded, with Batiatus looking onward.

TriviaEdit

• According to the Blu-ray commentary for Revelations, Solonius' death scene was originally written with him attempting to flee Spartacus in the arena, thus dying like a coward. It was decided that it would be more appropriate to have Solonius put up a decent fight, and die with honor. This decision was made in part due to Craig Walsh Wrightson's performance of the character, and in part due to the showrunners' surprise at his physique when he stripped off his shirt!
• Over 75% of the actor's official show reel, despite his many other roles, features the role of Solonius, suggesting how proud he is of the part.

QuotesEdit

"You survived your execution, Thracian. Upon these very sands... perhaps good Solonius will fare as well."^[1]         —Solonius to Spartacus                

"A vexing conundrum."                                                                                                                                      —Solonius to Batiatus

"You've picked my bones clean, speak now before I reclaim the meat."                                                    —Solonius to Ashur                                                                                                                                   

"Loyalty can become a crushing weight, if not braced by proper support. When your back begins to break, you'll find my shoulders broad and welcoming."                                                                                                    —Solonius to Ashur                                                                                                                                    

"It's taken many years and the price of blood, but now I finally see you for what you are. You're a man who holds no one in esteem above himself, and I must thank you, because without your guidance, I would have never found nerve to rise up and betray those closest to me."                                                                                                         —Solonius to Batiatus

"You take the wrong life. Your master Batiatus, is the villain."^[1]                                                            —Solonius to Spartacus; his last words      

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" Season 1; Episode 12