The Worth of a Man Under Empire

In "Mark of the Brotherhood", Crixius (Manu Bennett) learns a harsh lesson of the value of a man under empire.

After he and Spartacus won their historic arena in the arena, Crixius struggles to recover from his wounds. Incapacitated by his injuries, Crixius is unable to compete while Spartacus loses himself in the life of a champion gladiator.

The former champion's full recovery is so uncertain that his Dominus, Quintus Lentulus Batiatus (John Hannah), begins to muse selling him.

This is the worth of people under Empire: they are only worth what they can produce. When they can no longer produce as accustomed, productivity is sought by other means.