Am I not merciful?

Commodus

A General who became a slave, a slave who became a Gladiator, a Gladiator who defied an empire.

Commudus

I want you to become the protector of Rome after I die. I will empower you to one end alone; to give power back to the people of Rome and end the corruption it has crippled. Would you accept this great honor that I have offered?

Emperor

A clay water jug and a wooden bowl of red-orange stew on a mat, with a distant painted teal river and ochre sky. — Original artwork

It's somewhere out there; my country, my home. My wife is preparing food. My daughter is carrying water from the river. Will I ever see them again? I think no.

Juba

Today I saw a slave become more powerful then the Emperor of Rome.

Lucilla

At my signal, unleash hell.

Maximus

I knew a man who once said, 'Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back.'

Maximus

An iron key lies on a dark rocky bank beside a narrow stream disappearing into purple mist. — Original artwork

In this life or the next, I will have my vengeance.

Maximus

Painterly frost-covered short sword resting diagonally on dark slate. — Original artwork

It's the frost, it sometimes makes the blade stick.

Maximus

My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

Maximus

Strength and honor.

Maximus

What we do in life echoes in eternity.

Maximus

Painterly raised armored glove beside a broken bronze laurel wreath on brown stone. — Original artwork

You ask me what I want. I too want to stand up to the emporer as you did.

Maximus

These barbarians would rather drown in blood than yield an inch. If I didn't hate them so much I would admire them.

Quintus