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<i>This article contains spoilers.</i>
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<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.
The movie begins with the ailing Marcus Aurelius, Rome's emperor, watching Maximus leading a battle against a German tribe. The battle is portrayed as crucial in bringing peace to the Roman Empire's northern frontier. The German tribe was shown wearing Neolithic period clothing, which is inaccurate, and the clothing would have been more complex in fashion. During the reign of Aurelius, there were prolonged wars in Germania.
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 From historical documents, mainly in the writings of Cassius Dio, there is an indication that Marcus Aurelius was disappointed in his son, suggesting he had some trepidation about him.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 Commodus's reign. It is hard to tell what is exactly accurate as Commodus may have been more disliked by the upper classes. At the same time, 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 Emperor Commodus: Gladiator, Hercules or a tyrant?]</i> Boca Raton: BrownWalker Press.</ref>
[[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 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 and animals.
Excavations at the Colosseum showed a variety of exotic animals were present there. This included: bears, lions, hyenas, elephants, wild boar, buffalo, tigers, bulls, wolves, and leopards. The gladiators' clothing, particularly the helmets, were likely, not true and were stereotypes taken from later periods.<ref>For more on the gladiator games in the Roman Empire, see: Dunkle, R. (2008). <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ID6R2CW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ID6R2CW&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=3e1905f472915347388e16545946008c Gladiators: violence and spectacle in ancient Rome].</i>. 1st ed. Harlow, England ; New York: Pearson/Longman.</ref>
====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====
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<u>Maximus Decimus Meridius</u>: Maximus is an entirely fictitious character but seems to be based on several characters, including Avidius Cassius, a general in Marcus Aurelius' armies. He did declare himself emperor or revolt shortly after thinking Aurelius died in 175, suggesting a brief power struggle. Still, he was eventually killed after it became clear Aurelius was not dead. A general named Maximus lived in the late Roman Empire who may have aspired to revolt against the empire.<ref>For more on Avidius, see: Canduci, Alexander (2010). <i>Triumph & Tragedy: The Rise and Fall of Rome’s Immortal Emperors.</i> Roman imperial biographies. Sydney: Pier 9.</ref>
<u>Commodus</u>: While Commodus is a historical figure who did hold gladiator contests and may have been mentally unstable, as depicted in the film, he did, in fact, rule the Roman Empire for 12 years. Among the odd things Commodus did was rename the months and legions after himself (he had twelve names he went by). He even named the Roman people after himself. He was purported to have held naked gladiator contests, which would have outraged some Roman citizens and contributed to his bad reputation and eventual downfall. He may have killed 100 lions in a day during his gladiator contests and other exotic animals such as elephants. Even by Roman standards, the level of slaughter may have caused outrage.
He even started killing many disabled people in the arena, which may have been one of the final straws before he was assassinated. However, his political actions were also likely unwise. He tried to declare himself consul and gladiator, where the former is an elected position and the latter usually only slaves should hold. Narcissus, his wrestling partner, eventually killed him in 192 as part of a larger conspiracy by Roman leaders.<ref>For more on Commodus, see: Adams 2013.</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 his son's destructive nature, Marcus Aurelius was willing to choose 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>
There were many historical inaccuracies in the film. The historians who were hired to advise 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 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.
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