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They're showing the TV production 'Spartacus' on TV here, and aside from the usual problems, Crassus is played by an incredibly fat actor. When I think back, I can't recall ever having seen a slim Crassus on the screen.
Why?
I mean, yes, his name means 'fat', but judging from his portraits he was actually quite lean. How did this image stick? Is it because he is Spartacus' and Caesar's adversary and thus must be unattractive?
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Volker Bach
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I may be wrong, but the fat man is Sempronius Gracchus, played by Charles Laughton; Crassus (Laurence Olivier) is not that fat at all, if I recall correctly. I like Gracchus' quote "You have a tendency towards corpulence. Corpulence makes a man reasonable, pleasant and phlegmatic. Have you noticed the nastiest of tyrants are invariably thin?"
Jona (125 kg)
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Stupid - I realize now that you're not talking about the movie but a TV-series. Sorry for above comment.
Jona
(overweight implies no extra IQ)
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I can't help but think of Shakespeare:
CAESAR
Let me have men about me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights:
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
ANTONY
Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous;
He is a noble Roman and well given.
CAESAR
Would he were fatter!
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Quote:Fi this is your only problem with this film ... 
No, seriously, at least its only an equipment desasater instead of the full "empire" problem...
Far from, but it's the thing I noticed on this one. I mean, dirty-looking idefinite-Attic brass helmets, leather loricae thin enough to punch a finger through, stirrups, tiny brown shields with lots of iron on top, LARP gladiators, we're used to all of that. But it keep striking me that bad guys so frequently conform to expected stereotypes, and I'm wondering if there are antecedents to that. For example, how long have we had the 'Crassus' portrait? Is it credible that Shakespeare and his ilk wrote in ignorance of it, but of course knowing full well the name *meant* fat?
Minor correction: Jona, you're right, the hugely fat guy in the new film is someone else (I'll have to force myself to pay attention next time). Crassus is only somewhat stout - but that's still a long way from the body type in his bust. He looks more like young Nero.
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Volker Bach
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Well, of course Shakespeare was talking about Cassius, not Crassus... Slightly off-topic, I admit.
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I was more bothered by his beard. At this time, Roman men only were bearded when in mourning.
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The people who cast him probably didn't grasp the deft Roman usage of sarcasm.
AVETE OMNES
MARIVS TARQVINIVS VRSVS
PATER FAMILIAS DOMVS VRSVM
-Tom
