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[[File:Gladiator-3.jpeg|thumbnail|left|300px|The <i>Gladiator</i>]]
<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AEFY552/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00AEFY552&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ce0aef7b341cf998192101da595c6f64 Gladiator]</i> was a film released in 2000 starring Russell Crowe that focused on General Maximus Decimus Meridius, who was enslaved after escaping his execution for not supporting the new Roman emperor Commodus (starring Joaquin Phoenix). Maximus rises as a well-skilled gladiator, eventually making it to Rome where he participates in the gladiator games sponsored by Commodus. After Commodus learns of Maximus, both characters want to kill the other. Maximus attempts to conspire with those in the Senate who dislike Commodus, while Commodus attempts to have Maximus killed in the gladiator battles.
====Battles in Germania====The <i>Gladiator</i> was a film released in 2000 starring Russell Crowe that focused on General Maximus Decimus Meridiusmovie begins with the ailing Marcus Aurelius, who was enslaved after escaping his execution for not supporting the new Roman emperor Commodus (staring Joaquin Phoenix). of Rome, watching Maximus rises as leading a battle against a well skilled gladiatorGerman tribe, eventually making it to Rome where he participates the battle is portrayed as crucial in bringing peace to the gladiator games sponsored by CommodusRoman Empire's northern frontier. After Commodus learns of MaximusThe German tribe was shown wearing Neolithic period clothing, both characters want to kill something that is inaccurate and the otherclothing would have been more complex in fashion. Maximus attempts to conspire with those in During the Senate who dislike Commodusreign of Aurelius, while Commodus attempts to have Maximus killed there were prolonged wars in the gladiator battlesGermania.
Marcus Aurelius appointed his son as successor long before he died in 166 (he died in 180 CE), making it clear that Commodus was his choice all along. He also died in Vienna (ancient Vindobona), but the film showed him dying in Germania during the campaign. Some rumors and stories did circulate that Commodus did kill his father, but this could have been later stories created to malign the emperor Commodus since he was not well liked by the Senate, as suggested in the film. The appointment of Commodus was controversial, as shown in the film. From historical documents, mainly in the writings of Cassius Dio, there is an indication that Marcus Aurelius was disappointed in his son, suggesting he had some trepidation about him. Cassius Dio indicates that Rome suffered as Commodus came to power, but this could be part of later propaganda after the reign of Commodus. It is hard to tell what is exactly accurate as Commodus may have been more disliked by the upper classes, while some indication suggests he was popular with the army or even lower classes as a sort of peoples' emperor.<ref>For more on Commodus and his life, see: Adams, G. W. (2013). <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612337228/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1612337228&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=2642b1925a40b708465fd89d98d57316 The Emperor Commodus: gladiator, Hercules or a tyrant?]</i> Boca Raton: BrownWalker Press.</ref>{{Mediawiki:TabletAd1}}{{Mediawiki:TabletAd1}}====The Gladiator Contests====[[File:0 Colosseum - Rome 111001 (2).jpeg|thumbnail|left|300px|Figure 1. The Colosseum was the premier event for gladiator contests, where advertisement and billboards also hung to promote products.]]In the film, after Maximus was taken as a slave, but not before he discovered that Commodus killed his wife and son, he was shown as being transported and eventually enslaved as a gladiator in a far away, a remote province in the Roman Empire (somewhere in the Middle East or North Africa). While the circumstances of how Commodus became emperor in the film are probably not true, there is some greater truth in some of the gladiator fights. For instance, gladiator contests did often reconstruct famous battles or scenes using characters from history or legends. Gladiator contests did take place in many places around the empire. Animals, such as tigers, were often used in arenas, where gladiators might fight each other as well as animals.
Gladiators, as suggested in the film, were treated like rock startsstars. Those who were successful could gain favors, such as having access to women and even earn their freedom. However, unlike the film, often contests did not result in the death of contestants. Animals, in fact, were more often killed in contests. This may have been de-emphasized in the film. The emperors did use their thumbs at times to depict if the gladiator should die or live, although we do not know if this was thumbs up for living and thumbs down for getting killed. It could have been the other way around.<ref>For more on gladiator traditions, see: Winkler, M. M. (Ed.). (2004). <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1405110422/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1405110422&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=0a0147f269beb6328eb63b9d10801203 Gladiator: film and history].</i> Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub.</ref>
The Colosseum (Figure 1) was the premier event for gladiator contests after its construction in 70-80 CE. Ambitious trainers, similar to how the film depicts it, would try to situate themselves so they could compete in main events that promised large financial rewards. Similar to sport today, the gladiator games had a lot of money that would exchange hands around the event. This revolved around gambling on the events but also rewards earned by rewarded the owners from the gladiator slaves, which is one reason why the mass killing of people gladiators may not have occurred that often.<ref>For more on the Colosseum and venues for gladiator contests, see: Aldrete, G. S. (2008). <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0806140275/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0806140275&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=49b67742ce99855243d1ef3bdb379b40 Daily life in the Roman city: Rome, Pompeii and Ostia ] (Oklahoma paperback ed).</i> Norman: Univ. of Oklahoma Press.</ref>
<u>Maximus Decimus Meridius</u>: Maximus is an entirely fictitious character, but seems to be based on several characters, including Avidius Cassius, who was a general in Marcus Aureliusdiv class="portal" style=' armies. In fact, he did declare himself emperor or revolt shortly after thinking Aurelius died in 175, suggesting a brief power struggle, but he was eventually killed after it was learned Aurelius was not dead. There was a general named Maximus who lived in the late Roman Empire who may have aspired to revolt against the empire.<ref>For more on Avidius, seefloat: Canduci, Alexander (2010). <i>Triumph & Tragedyright; width: The Rise and Fall of Rome’s Immortal Emperors.</i> Roman imperial biographies. Sydney: Pier 9.</ref35%'>
====Related DailyHistory.org Articles===={{#dpl:category=Roman History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=8}}</div>====Main Characters====<u>CommodusMaximus Decimus Meridius</u>: While Commodus Maximus is a historical figure who did hold gladiator contests and may have been mentally unstablean entirely fictitious character, as depicted in the filmbut seems to be based on several characters, he didincluding Avidius Cassius, who was a general in fact, rule for 12 yearsMarcus Aurelius' armies. Among the odd things Commodus He did was rename the months and legions after declare himself (he had twelve names he went by). He even named the Roman people emperor or revolt shortly after himself. He was purported to have held naked gladiator conteststhinking Aurelius died in 175, which would have outraged some Roman citizens and may have contributed to his bad reputation and eventual downfall. He may have killed 100 lions in suggesting a day during his gladiator contests and other exotic animals such as elephants. Even by Roman standardsbrief power struggle, the level of slaughter may have caused outragebut he was eventually killed after it became clear Aurelius was not dead. He even started killing There was a large number of crippled people general named Maximus who lived in the arena, which late Roman Empire who may have been on of the final straws before his own assassination. However, his political actions were also likely unwise, as he tried aspired to declare himself consul and gladiator, where the former is an elected position and revolt against the later something usually only slaves should hold. Narcissus, his wrestling partner, eventually killed him in 192 as part of a larger conspiracy by Roman leadersempire.<ref>For more on CommodusAvidius, see: Adams 2013Canduci, Alexander (2010). <i>Triumph & Tragedy: The Rise and Fall of Rome’s Immortal Emperors.</i> Roman imperial biographies. Sydney: Pier 9.</ref>
<u>LucillaCommodus</u>: She was While Commodus' sister is a historical figure who did hold gladiator contests and may have been mentally unstable, as depicted in the film she was depicted as trying to encourage the conspiracy against her brother. She , he did, in fact, conspire to kill rule for 12 years. Among the odd things Commodus but failed in 182, leading to her deathdid was rename the months and legions after himself (he had twelve names he went by). Unlike what He even named the film depicts, Lucilla Roman people after himself. He was probably ambitious purported to be a co-ruler with her husband (she is shown as a widow in the movie)have held naked gladiator contests, which is why she would have outraged some Roman citizens and may have conspiredcontributed to his bad reputation and eventual downfall. However, she He may have not considered herself as killed 100 lions in a possible ruler until she witnessed her erratic brother's behavior. Unlike the film, Commodus probably did not try to have incestous relations with day during his sistergladiator contests and other exotic animals such as elephants.<ref>For more on LucillaEven by Roman standards, see: Lightman, M., Lightman, B., & Lightman, M. (2008).<i>A to Z the level of ancient Greek and Roman women.</i> (Rev. ed). New York: Facts On File, pg. 195slaughter may have caused outrage.</ref>
<u>Marcus Aurelius</u>: The emperor's relatively positive reputation has likely contributed to his depiction in the film as a wise ruler (i.e., the philosopher king) who tried to avoid appointing his son. However, despite the destructive nature of his son, Marcus Aurelius willing to chose Commodus to be his successor and heir. The film depicts Marcus Aurelius lamenting his many wars, but in reality, Marcu Aurelius would have seen these wars as his duty to Rome. He was influenced by Stoic philosophy, which believed in wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance.<ref>For more on Marcus Aurelius as the philosopher king, see: McLynn, F. (2010). <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1844135276/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1844135276&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b7e495cc41272b5a97414fb499bdbe9c Marcus Aurelius: warrior, philosopher, emperor].</i> London: Vintage Books.</ref> ====Conclusion and Accuracy====There were many historical inaccuracies in the film and the historians who were hired to advise on the movie quit or refused to be given credits because of the many historical inaccuracies the final version had. Nevertheless, as with most historical dramas, this movie was more about entertainment than historical narrative. The overall narrative of a somewhat crazy emperor in the form of Commodus embellishing in gladiator games was correct. Oddly enough, the reality of Commodus' reign was probably more outrageous than what was shown in the film, as the emperor often made himself dress as a gladiator and fought numerous contests with animals and others, such as wounded gladiators. If you want to learn more about gladiators, check out our article [[How Did Gladiatorial Games Evolve in Ancient Rome?]] for more information. {{MediaWiki:AmNative}} ====References====<references/> {{Contributors}}[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Ancient History]] [[Category:Historically Accurate]] [[Category:Roman History]]