Oenomaus | |
|---|---|
| Slave leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gaul or Galatia |
| Died | 73–72 BC Southern Italy |
| Nationality | Gaulic or Galatian |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | Third Servile War |
Oenomaus[1] was a Gallic gladiator,[2] who escaped from the gladiatorial school of Lentulus Batiatus in Capua. Together with Spartacus, Crixus, Castus, and Gannicus, he became one of the leaders of rebellious slaves during the Third Servile War (73–71 BC)
Oenomaus was involved in one of the first major successes of the slave army, the rout of the army of the praetor Gaius Claudius Glaber, who had tried to lay siege to the slave army near Mount Vesuvius.
Oenomaus fell in an early battle, possibly during the winter of 73–72 BC when the slave armies were plundering cities and towns in the south of Italy.[3]