The hero of the second slave revolt in Roman history...
(2nd century BC) Sicilian slave. He is the leader of a slave revolt against Rome. Nothing is known about his life before 104 BC. He was one of the leaders of the second great Sicilian slave revolt while he was in the Aegean and Lilybasum regions.
Athenion (died 101 BC) was a Sicilian slave who, alongside Salvius Tryphon, led a slave rebellion against Roman rule in the Second Servile War of 104-100 BC. He was victorious against several Roman armies before ultimately being slain in a duel with Manius Aquillius in 101 BC.
Another leader of the slave revolt that began in 104 BC was Salvius Tryphon. Acting with Salvius, Athenion spread among soldiers and workers a prophecy that he would become king and be crowned. An army of slaves led by Salvius and Athenion captured Triokala, but was defeated by Licinius Lucullus at Skirthaia in 103 BC.
After the death of Salvius, Athenion, who became the sole leader, achieved various successes between 103-101 BC and captured Makella and Messana. Finally, realizing that the uprising was in serious danger, Rome sent Consul Aquilius against Athenion.
Encountering with Aquilius in 101 BC, Athenion was killed by Aquilius in battle. The revolt initiated by Athenion lasted until 100 BC.
135-132 BC: First Slave War - Sicilian slaves and gladiators led by the Syrian-born Eunus revolt for freedom against their Roman owners. The revolt was successful and the slaves and gladiators were freed.
104-100 BC: II Slave War - A slave revolt initiated against the Romans in Sicily by a slave named Tryphon, a Seleucid King, but originally named Slavius, and then continued by a slave named Athenion. In 100 BC, a one-on-one confrontation with the Roman consul "Manius Aquillius" and the leader of the rebels, Athenion, was eventually suppressed.
73-71 BC: III Slave War - Led by the gladiator Spartacus, a major revolt against the Roman Republic begins. Armies of slaves defeated large numbers of Roman troops in succession, the rebels pressed against Rome. The revolt was suppressed, albeit with difficulty.