The latest episode of Spartacus: House of Ashur titled Goddess of Death dramatically changes the game. It moves beyond simple arena battles into the complicated world of Roman power politics. The arrival of Julius Caesar at Ashur’s villa is the central event. Caesar’s clever plans quickly overshadow Ashur’s own schemes. At the same time, the episode delivers on the series’ promise of bloody spectacle as gladiator Achillia fights for her life and the future of her ludus.
For viewers around the world, this episode premiered on Friday, December 26, 2025, on Starz at 9 PM Eastern Time. New episodes continue to be released weekly, with the season scheduled to run into early February 2026.
Caesar Arrives and Takes Control
Julius Caesar, played by Jackson Gallagher, does not come to Capua as a simple visitor. He arrives with his wife, Cornelia, and immediately begins to act as if he owns the place. He commandeers Ashur’s own bed and issues orders to the household staff, making it clear who holds real power. For Ashur, this is a deep personal insult and a direct challenge to his authority as Dominus of his own house.
The political reason for Caesar’s visit is even more important. He reveals a shocking truth to Ashur: the attack on Cossutia and her daughter, Viridia, by Cilician pirates was not a random event. Caesar confesses that he and his patron, Marcus Crassus, orchestrated the entire incident. Their goal was to create a crisis that would force Senator Gabinius to feel indebted to Ashur for the rescue. This, in turn, would give Caesar leverage to manipulate Gabinius against his current ally, Pompey.
In just a few moments, Caesar accomplishes what Ashur has been struggling to do all season. He secures a place for Ashur’s gladiators in the prestigious Ludi Apollinares games. This move is not an act of kindness. It is a calculated step to use Ashur’s ludus, and specifically his champion Achillia, as a piece in a much larger political game for control of Rome.
A Dark and Difficult Scene for the Cast
The episode contains a particularly disturbing moment that underscores Caesar’s cruelty and the complete powerlessness of those beneath him. To further humiliate Ashur and demonstrate his total control, Caesar assaults Hilara, one of Ashur’s trusted household slaves, while Ashur is forced to watch.
Actress Jaime Slater, who plays Cornelia, spoke about filming this challenging scene. She noted that while the production had an intimacy coordinator and the actors felt comfortable with each other, the purpose of the scene was to be intentionally dark.
“This was very much a scene about Caesar and Cornelia colonizing Ashur’s villa. So it had to be dark,” Slater explained.
This brutal act is a stark contrast to the lavish party that follows in the same villa, highlighting the extreme duality of Roman elite life—opulent celebration built on a foundation of cruelty and subjugation.
Achillia’s Path to the Arena
While Caesar schemes upstairs, the gladiators prepare for battle below. The focus is on Achillia, played by Tenika Davis. Ashur and his Doctore, Korris, make the bold decision to name her the official champion of the House of Ashur. They plan for her to fight in the primus, the main event of the games, against the famous Brothers Ferox. This is a huge risk. No woman has been given such a prominent position in the arena, and it challenges every Roman tradition.
Not everyone supports this plan. Veteran gladiator Tarchon openly mocks Achillia and believes he should be champion. He pretends to support her while secretly hoping she will fail. The night before the games, Achillia shares an intimate moment with fellow gladiator Celadus, adding a personal connection to the high-stakes fight ahead.
At a party held at Ashur’s villa to celebrate the games, Achillia is formally presented to Capua’s elite senators and wealthy citizens. The reaction is not the respect Ashur hoped for. The crowd laughs at the idea of a female champion. This public ridicule puts even more pressure on Achillia. Her performance is no longer just about winning a fight; it will determine whether Ashur’s ludus becomes a respected institution or a lasting joke.
The Arena Games Begin
The episode delivers two major gladiatorial battles. The first features Tarchon fighting alongside his son, Celadus. They face a pair of gladiators from a rival house. The fight is brutal, and Tarchon’s reckless aggression almost gets them both killed. However, they manage to work together and survive, with the experience beginning to mend their strained relationship.
Then, it is time for the main event. The crowd is hostile as Achillia enters the sand. However, in a last-minute twist orchestrated by Senator Gabinius, her opponent is changed. Instead of fighting the Brothers Ferox as planned, she is forced to face a massive gladiator named Ammonius. This change is Gabinius’s way of retaliating against Ashur and Caesar for their political maneuvering. He wants to ensure Ashur’s champion is killed in front of everyone.
The fight seems impossibly one-sided. Ammonius is a giant of a man who uses his sheer strength to throw Achillia around the arena. She is badly hurt, suffering a severe concussion and a serious injury to her sword hand. When all seems lost, memories of her past and her training give her a second wind. Using her speed and agility—her greatest advantages—she outmaneuvers the giant. In a final, desperate move, she defeats him.
The victory is hard-won and costly, but it is complete. The once-skeptical crowd now roars its approval. Ashur’s gladiators hail her as a true champion. She has earned her title, Goddess of Death, and in doing so, has given Ashur his first major success.
Political Fallout and Future Schemes
Even in victory, the political games continue. Caesar announces he must leave Capua early to meet with Pompey, a move that is surely part of his larger strategy. However, he leaves his wife, Cornelia, behind at Ashur’s villa, implying her role in the scheming is far from over.
Other subplots simmer beneath the surface. Proculus, a guard in the house, witnesses a secret encounter between Opiter and Doctore Korris. This information could be used as blackmail to weaken Ashur’s house from within. Meanwhile, Viridia, the daughter Ashur saved, begins to show a fondness for him, creating a potential new alliance or complication
Also Read:
The cast has hinted that the story undergoes a major shift following this episode. Nick E. Tarabay, who plays Ashur, suggested that the arrival of Caesar and Cornelia fundamentally changes the series.
“The show is not the same from episodes 6 to 10. It’s almost like another show… Once we get to 5, it almost feels like a finale until you see Cornelia and Caesar. And then it’s like, ‘Oh, s–t, we’re going with this?’ It gets really rough,” Tarabay stated.
Also Read: Bridgerton Season 4 Episode 1 To Premiere Early For Special Fan Event
