Crixus

I think if I had naming rights for a baby boy today, I’d name him Crixus. I know it looks like a made-up name or the name of a software program or a drug to control something like irritable bowel syndrome, but Crixus was a bad-ass gladiator who died in 72 BC. He hung with Spartacus and Oenomaus, and led the slave rebellion in the Third Servile War. As the story goes, Roman troops, sent to quash the rebellion, caught up with Crixus and his forces. In the battle, a strategic military maneuver Crixus attempted had failed and he was forced to fight a losing defensive. Crixus was killed and his 30,000 strong army defeated. Spartacus honored his buddy, Crixus, with funeral games at which 300 Roman prisoners-of-war were forced to fight to the death like gladiators. How sweet of the Spart-man! The photo accompanying this entry? That’s Lucretia (another odd, but not that cool name) who was Crixus’ main squeeze. She was said to be cunning, insightful, and had a great wit