Marcus Decius Solonius (died 73 BC) was a Roman lanista from Capua. He was sentenced to die in the arena for the murder of a magistrate, and he was slain by Spartacus.
Biography[]
Marcus Decius Solonius was born in Capua, Roman Republic, and he became a lanista, an owner of gladiators. Solonius was once close friends with Lentulus Batiatus, but they would later become rivals, with Batiatus and his wife Lucretia both vowing to kill him in the future due to their rivalry. In 73 BC, he presented Senator Albinius with six gladiators at a feast in Capua, presenting him with Arkadios and several others. In the tournament, all of them were slain by the Thracian gladiator Spartacus, who was spared due to the crowd's love for him. That same year, Solonius plotted to bring down Batiatus, but Batiatus murdered Magistrate Titus Calavius over a personal insult and framed Solonius for the murder. Solonius was sentenced to die in the arena, and he was beheaded by Spartacus.