Spartacus Series: Meet All about Ilithyia

     Ilithyia was, in the series Spartacus, "friend" of Lucretia and both had a relationship of total poison. She was married to Claudius Glaber, the one who captured the Thracian.

Ilithyia in Spartacus series:

     Ilithyia is a main character in the Spartacus series. She is a wealthy Roman woman, the daughter of Senator Albinius and the wife of Praetor Gaius Claudius Glaber. She is a close friend of Lucretia, however, her lively relationship is more than meets the eye. In Vengeance, Ilithyia becomes pregnant and her pregnancy, without knowing it, plays a big role in the early stages of the war when she becomes a link between the two possible parents: Spartacus and Glaber.

Appearance:

     Ilithyia has long, wavy blond hair, blue eyes and is of medium height. Due to her father's wealth, she is always seen wearing luxurious dresses and extravagant jewelry, which is in fashion among the highest levels of Roman society.

Personality:

     Ilithyia is married to Gaius Claudius Glaber and shares many of his deceptive traits. She is a coquettish young woman and dishonest in her most innocent, individual and manipulative appearance without the help of her husband. She, along with her husband, shares a strong dislike for Spartacus and wishes to see him dead. In contradiction, she is highly fascinated by other gladiators, in particular Crixus. She admires his strength and ferocity in the battle, after Lucretia's suggestion, buys one for himself. She hopes to make some of her friends in the high Roman circles jealous of this purchase, but she still seems to be the one who tries to amuse them and get their approval.

Check: All about Lucretia

Blood and Sand:

     Ilithyia is introduced alongside her husband, Glaber, as he tries to persuade the Thracians to help him in the battle. Ilithyia surprises Glaber when she arrives at the camp without warning, claiming that she brought him a "gift": herself, completely naked under a thick fur coat. She wishes to please her husband and promises that if he does well, she will be able to speak well with her father to promote him. When the Thracian later known as Spartacus and his colleague report movement between the Getae armies, Ilithyia urges her husband to abandon his post and his word, inciting the Thracians without knowing riot and desertion.

     In Capua, Ilithyia begs her father, Senator Albinius, to give her husband a chance for redemption for his misfortune with the Thracians, with which he reluctantly agrees. He warns Ilithyia, however, that he will not listen to other persuasions.

     Glaber visits Ludus of Batiatus to humiliate Spartacus, informing him of his wife, Sura's slavery. Meanwhile, Lucretia entertains Ilithyia, and despite Ilithyia's aversion to food and drink (and the environment in general), the two eventually form a kind of friendship, as both reveal a more devious and cunning nature. Ilithyia is intrigued to see what usefulness Lucretia can still bring you, and is fascinated by the gladiators who practice in the training area below.

Vengeance:

     At the beginning of Spartacus: Vengeance, we find Ilithyia apparently shifting from her former scheming self to the role of a forgotten wife and future mother. Unfortunately for her, the trail of blood and destruction she left behind in Ludus de Batiatus when she barricaded her inhabitants will not be forgotten. As her husband's desire for her subsides, she becomes increasingly vulnerable. When Glaber starts his war against Spartacus, he orders Ilithyia to return to Capua with him and his army and she is ordered by her husband to live in the bloody ruins of the House of Batiatus.

     Shortly after arriving, she is found by Lucretia, who was reported dead more than a month ago. Although Lucretia seems to have gone mad and lost all memory of what happened to the ludus, Ilithyia is suspicious of her and is upset when her husband decides to use Lucretia to promote her image with the people of Capua. She soon returns to her schemes by shifting her attention from her husband Glaber to Varinius, a wealthy and high-ranking Roman who is also a praetor.

     Ilithyia approaches her father in order to dissolve their marriage. Although her father never cared about Glaber in the first place, he refuses to dissolve his marriage. Ilithyia begins to give hints of her intentions around Varinius, who reveals that he is more than willing to marry her.

Check: All about Tullius

TRIVIA

• Ilithyia appears in the novel Spartacus: Swords and Ashes.
  
• Ilithyia was the twelfth main character to be killed.
• She was supposed to be killed along with Lucretia at the end of the first season. However, the writers changed their minds and extended their story for another season.
• As her father was called Albinius, Ilithyia was a member of Roman Gens Albinia, a political dynasty descended from one of the first Tribunes of the Plebe in Rome, called Lucius Albinius Paterculus. Albinia is derived from the Latin word Albus, which means 'white'.
• The name Ilithyia is derived from the name of the Greek goddess of childbirth, Eileithyia.
• As the daughter of Albinius, her full name would be Albinia Ilithyia.

Check: Greek Goddess Eileithyia

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