In 71 B.C. this escaped gladiator-slave led a revolt, defeating Roman armies along the way, but he was killed and many of his supporters were crucified. Almost 2,000 years later, in 1960, Kirk Douglas played his role on the silver screen. Who was he?

The legendary leader of the Third Servile War, a massive slave uprising against the Roman Republic, was a Thracian gladiator who broke free from a training school in Capua. His rebellion, starting with just 70 fellow gladiators, swelled to an army of over 120,000 escaped slaves, shepherds, and peasants. They inflicted several humiliating defeats on Roman legions before the full might of the Republic, led by Crassus, eventually crushed the revolt in 71 B.C. The brutal crucifixion of thousands of his captured followers along the Appian Way served as a grim warning.

This incredible tale of defiance against overwhelming power has captivated imaginations for centuries. It was this historical figure, a symbol of freedom and resistance, who was brought to life on the big screen in Stanley Kubrick's iconic 1960 historical drama. Actor Kirk Douglas not only starred in the titular role, delivering a powerful portrayal of the determined rebel, but also played a crucial part in getting the film made and famously broke the Hollywood blacklist by insisting on screen credit for screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.

The film, a monumental achievement in its own right, cemented the gladiator's place in popular culture as an enduring hero. His struggle for liberty against the might of Rome continues to inspire stories of rebellion and the fight for human dignity, making his name synonymous with the ultimate underdog challenging an empire.