Theokoles
First appearance	Comic #4: The Shadow of Death S1E05: Shadow Games
Last appearance	S1E05: Shadow Games
Profession	Gladiator (Retired)
Race	Greek (Spartan)
Relationships	Theokoles's Mother (Mother, deceased) Karina (Lover, deceased) Gharib (Friend/Rival, deceased) Marcus Decius Solonius (Employer, deceased)
Status	Deceased (Killed by Spartacus)
Actor/Actress	Reuben De Jong

Theokoles was a legendary Greek gladiator and was also known as the Shadow of Death.

Contents 1 Appearance 2 Personality 3 Combat Prowess 4 Motion Comic 5 Blood and Sand 6 Video Games 7 Trivia 8 Quotes 9 References 10 Comments

AppearanceEdit

Theokoles is a huge Greek  albino gladiator with deathly pale skin and reddish eyes. His skin is covered with scars, supporting Varro's rumour that he has been cut 1000 times; in particular his face, across which there are two deep gashes, alongside his torso and arms. He has a tattoo on one shoulder, which was given to him by a band of pirates he served with for a time.Theokoles' albinism accounts for his pale skin, red eyes and photophobia, which allowed Crixus to easily blind him with reflected sunlight. He fights wearing very little armor, only adorning a balteus. and wields two great swords. His swords are much larger than standard gladii, a befit to his massive size.

PersonalityEdit

Theokoles is

a gladiator who cares for glory and fame above all else, even after winning a thousand fortunes throughout all his battles in the arena. He enjoys toying or teasing his opponents to amuse the crowd, apparently showing lack of true skill in a first bit, before moving in as the powerful warrior he really is. He also appears to have a high resistance to pain, being able to withstand grievous, even fatal, wounds and continue to fight as if there was nothing holding him back. Despite this, however, Theokoles possesses a kind heart, not being able to stand hearing or seeing women in pain or despair. Ultimately, his love for the arena comes from the fact that he had no other place in the world, and that it was the arena where he flourished. Theokoles fights in the Dimachaeri style, a two sword fighting style usually best suited to small and agile gladiators.

Combat ProwessEdit

Theokoles is one of the biggest, strongest, and most durable warriors encountered in the series, whose legendary battles have been engraved into the history of the arena. The giant shows a great amount of skill, being able to beat Oenomaus at his prime, whom is one of the most skilled warriors in the series, having won countless victories over his career; Theokoles even once bested 100 men in the arena. Theokoles shows immense strength and durability, receiving many wounds yet continuing to fight without a problem.

Motion ComicEdit

Theokoles was born in a small village in the region of Sparta in Greece. He was extremely large and powerful, even as a child, but his mother still treated him with love and care. Eventually she passed away and he grew up being a gentle giant and farmer. Treated as a monster by the other villagers, he eventually fell in love Karina, the only person to ever show him kindness. However, Karina dies in intercourse with Theokoles and this causes the whole village to finally turn on him, calling monster and all kinds of names. In grieve and rage he killed all that attacked him and buried Karina next to his mother, before moving on. 

Theokoles wandered after that and to which he later saved the life of the son of Gharib. Ghardib was a pirate captain and they welcomed Theokoles with open arms. They sail across the seas gaining fortune and fame and Theokoles eventually gains a tattoo. However, when the pirates later attempt to rape several women, Theokoles' mind changes and he begins to fight off and kill the pirates. During this time a storm hits and the ship is crushed by the waves, with Theokoles being sent into the harsh sea. 

He later washes up on Roman shores and finds himself captured by Roman soldiers. He is sent to the arena, where he flourishes and, after years of being called monster and beast, found a place where people cheer his name. Over the years he grows more famous and more victorious, having never lost a battle. He is soon battled by Oenomaus, the Champion of the House of Batiatus. They fight hard, almost as equals for a time, though Theokoles is still the far stronger combatant. Before going to deliver the final blow, however, he hears the cry of Melitta. This moves him, and he tells Oenomaus to grab his sword. However, the editor of the games notes of Oenomaus skill and his ability to have fought longer than any other gladiator against Theokoles and grants them both victory. While Theokoles is satisfied, Oenomaus is personally disappointed. 

Throughout the many years he would fight in the arena, earning thousands of fortunes and gaining every victory against the gladiators he faced, would later retire to an unknown place.

Blood and SandEdit

Theokoles is first mentioned a few times in the series, spoken of in fear and awe, though Spartacus doesn't believe in the stories about him, which causes the other gladiators to further scoff him. Solonius procures the retired Theokoles to outdo Batiatus. He is set to fight against Batiatus' gladiators, Crixus and Spartacus, as only one gladiator would not be enough. Theokoles shows tact in the fight by first letting the two think they have the advantage, eventually falling to the ground after receiving gashes to the chest. As Spartacus and Crixus celebrate his fall, he rises again and

resumes the battle. A combined assault proves not enough and Theokoles seriously wounds Crixus.

Spartacus, taking advantage of Crixus' shield to propel himself into the air, delivers a fierce strike. Not giving up yet, Crixus grabs a helmet lying nearby and reflects the light into Theokoles' face, blinding him momentarily. Spartacus uses the moment to his advantage, circles behind Theokoles and cripples him to his knees before decapitating him.

Video GamesEdit

• In the Spartacus: Blood and Sand iPhone game, Theokoles is one of the playable characters, however he must be unlocked before he can be used. He fights with two swords.

TriviaEdit

• Reuben De Jong, the actor who plays Theokoles is 208cm (6'10") tall and weighs 140kg (308lbs).
• Crixus and Oenomaus are the only two gladiators to have been defeated by Theokoles and live.
• Theokoles, along with Gannicus and Unnamed Murmillo, are some of the only gladiators seen to have tattoos. It can be noted that the recruit Segovax also had a tattoo, but he died before being accepted into the brotherhood.

QuotesEdit

(To the crowd after being knocked down by Spartacus and Crixus): "Capua! Shall I begin?" ^[1]

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ Spartacus: Blood and Sand Season 1; Episode 5