Narcissus (murderer)

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This page is about the 2nd century Roman citizen; for other uses of the term, please see Narcissus.

Narcissus was a Roman athlete and wrestler from the 2nd century AD. He was employed by emperor Commodus as his wrestling partner and personal trainer in order to train him for his appearances in the Colosseum as a gladiator. In the year 192 AD he was recruited by several senators, led by Praetorian prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus, to assassinate the emperor.

On December 31 of that same year, Commodus' mistress and co-conspirator Marcia admitted Narcissus into Commodus' bedchamber. Commodus was supposedly in a drunken stupor after Marcia had poisoned him and Narcissus proceeded to strangle his master in his bathtub or, according to some sources, in his bed.

The fictional character of general Maximus Decimus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe in the movie Gladiator was partially based on Narcissus, among others. The character's name was changed from Narcissus to Maximus in later evolutions of the movie's script.