Atticus

When Milo arrived in Pompeii, Atticus was being held in the amphitheater's dungeon. He was Pompeii's champion gladiator, who had to win one last fight in the arena to gain his freedom. Sitting in his cell, he saw Milo being mentioned by another gladiator, who said he must be The Celt, who, it was said, was "faster even than you [Aticus]." Atticus seemed skeptical. Then the fight began between Milo and The Great Thrax; Atticus bet on the latter gladiator and lost two rations of wine. As it turned out, Milo was subsequently placed in the same cell as Atticus.
The next morning, Atticus asked Milo his name, but Milo refused to answer, stating that their only job was to kill each other. Later, during arena training, Graecus designated Milo as his opponent for their final match, and they sparred. The forces seemed roughly equal, and Milo eventually managed to knock Atticus down. At that moment, Atticus noticed the Great Thracian attempting to attack Milo from behind with an improvised knife, so he kicked him, causing him to fall and drop his weapon. The fight was broken up by Graecus, and Milo saw a knife as Bellator separated them.

Atticus is a gladiator and slave seeking to win his final battle for freedom. He befriends Milo, another slave like himself, but a newcomer.
After the eruption of Vesuvius, he helps him and Cassia, daughter of the governor of Pompeii, to escape the disaster.

As the champion of Pompeii and a gladiator, convinced he only needs to win one more fight to achieve his freedom, Atticus seems willing to kill any other gladiator to reach his goal. However, this willingness to kill does not make him a cruel man. Upon meeting Milo, he tries to befriend him (though the first thing he tells him is that he owes him two rations of wine, which he had to hand over because of a lost bet, he never actually demanded them back; and, moreover, when Milo was wounded in the back, he "wasted" another ration disinfecting his wounds). The next day, he learns that Milo will be his opponent in the final duel, and they have a practice fight, but during it, Atticus demonstrates his honor by kicking the assassin who tried to kill Milo and saving him. When speaking with Milo about his impending death, he promises him an honorable and humane death (a swift and decisive blow). After forging a bond between the two gladiators, especially after fighting side-by-side in the arena, Atticus eventually offers to help Milo rescue Cassia, though he initially wanted to leave the city immediately and only goes to the port at Milo's suggestion. He also sends Milo to rescue Cassia when Senator Corvus kidnaps her, wanting to help them both and taking responsibility for Proculus, though he was likely aware that doing so would prevent him from escaping Pompeii. In times of adversity, he saves the life of an unknown young Roman woman and returns her to her mother, despite having recently been betrayed by those same Romans. These actions demonstrate his kind heart, honesty, and honor.

Atticus is a muscular man of African descent, bald with a short black beard. He dresses in black.