TIL Spartacus’ Enemy Crassus’ Severed Head was Filled with Molten Gold and Used as a Prop in a Play

Marcus Licinius Crassus, the villain in the movie Spartacus, was born to a prominent Roman family in 115 B.C. During his life, Crassus rose to great economic and political power. He served as one of two Consuls (the highest political office in the Roman Republic) on two separate occasions. He is also considered the second wealthiest person in the history of Rome.

Crassus amassed much of his nearly $8.9 billion (adjusted to modern U.S. dollars) by buying burned and destroyed property and using slave labor to rebuild it. Plutarch, the famous Greek historian, described Crassus’ acquisition of wealth “by fire and rapine, making his advantage of public calamities”. He also made money through slave trafficking, silver mine production, and real estate investments.

Approximately 20 years after defeating the slave army lead by Spartacus, Crassus became the governor of the Roman Province, Syria. This could have been an endless source of wealth. However, due to his desire to equal or surpass the military accomplishments of his two rivals, Pompey and Julius Caesar, Crassus decided to start a military campaign.

In 53 B.C. Crassus led an attack against Rome’s eastern enemy, Parthia. Even though the Parthian forces were outnumbered, their strategy of using mounted archers to attack Crassus’ army resulted in a Parthian victory.

Crassus' men demanded that he parley with the Parthians. Only after his own son, Publius, was killed in a battle did Crassus agree to meet with the enemy. On his way to the meeting, one of Crassus’ men sensed a trap and grabbed the reigns of Crassus’ horse. In the confusion, the Parthians attacked and killed the entire Roman party including Crassus himself.

Legend states, that Crassus was actually captured by the Parthians and was killed by pouring molten gold down his throat. However, historians believe that after Crassus was dead, his enemies cut off his head and then poured the molten gold into his mouth. The head was then used as a prop in a performance of the play The Bacchae.

For more information, please check out this site: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Licinius_Crassus

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