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==Battles in Germania==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.  Although they were close to annexing Moravia and West Slovakia during his reign, wars there were largely inconclusive. The movie depicts the emperor being killed by his son Commodus, although Commodus was already co-emperor. There is no evidence that Commodus had any difficult relationship with his father, although later authors did disparage Commodus. Furthermore, although Maximus is mostly a fictional character, it is not likely Marcus Aurelius would appoint a general as protector of the empire, as suggested in the movie where shortly before his death, the fictional Marcus Aurelius asked Maximus to lead the empire.  In fact, in the film, a conflict in Marcus Aurelius' mind was whether to return power to the Senate rather than have it mostly be with the emperor. This is unlikely as Marcus Aurelius, although often considered a wise emperor and even called the "philosopher-king," as suggested in the film, still believed in holding power closely and willingly passed power to his son, something a Roman Emperor had not done for about a century.<ref>For more on Marcus Aurelius, see Birley, A. R. (2016). <i>Gladiator[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FA62O8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000FA62O8&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=aee0aa476daf8e04842311de39ecaef3 Marcus Aurelius: a biography].</i> Place of publication not identified: Routledge.</ref> Marcus Aurelius appointed his son as successor long before he died in 166 (he died in 180 CE), making it clear that Commodus was a his choice all along. He also died in Vienna (ancient Vindobona), but the film released showed him dying in 2000 starring Russell Crowe Germania during the campaign. Some rumors and stories did circulate that focused on General Maximus Decimus MeridiusCommodus did kill his father, who was enslaved after escaping his execution for not supporting but this could have been later stories created to malign the new Roman emperor Commodus (staring Joaquin Phoenix). Maximus rises as a since he was not well skilled gladiator-liked by the Senate, eventually making it to Rome where he participates as suggested in the gladiator games sponsored by Commodusfilm. After The appointment of Commodus learns of Maximuswas controversial, both characters want to kill as shown in the otherfilm. Maximus attempts to conspire with those From historical documents, mainly in the Senate who dislike 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 Commoduscame to power, while but this could be part of later propaganda after Commodus attempts 's reign. It is hard to tell what is exactly accurate as Commodus may have Maximus killed in been more disliked by the upper classes. At the same time, some indication suggests he was popular with the gladiator battlesarmy 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>

==Battles Were the Gladiator Contests shown in GermaniaGladiator Accurate?==[[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, 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> Gladiators, as suggested in the film, we're treated like rock stars. Those who were successful could gain favors, such as having access to women and even earn their freedom. However, unlike the film, contests often 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 determine if a gladiator should die or live, although we do not know if this was thumbs up for a 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 to compete in main events that promised large financial rewards. Like sport today, the gladiator games had a lot of money exchange hands around the events. This revolved around gambling on the matches but also rewarded the owners from the gladiator slaves, which is one reason why the mass killing of 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>

The movie begins with the ailing Marcus Aurelius, the emperor of Rome, watching Maximus leading a battle against a Germany tribe, where the battle is portrayed as crucial in bringing peace to Roman Empire's northern frontier. During the reign of Aurelius, there were prolonged wars in Germania. Wars there were largely inconclusive, although they were close to annexing Moravia and West Slovakia during his reign. The movie depicts the emperor being killed by his son Commodus, although in reality Commodus was already co<dh-emperor. In fact, there is no evidence that Commodus had any difficult relationship with his father. Furthermore, although Maximus is mostly a fictional character, it is not likely Marcus Aurelius would appoint a general as protector of the empire, as suggested in the movie where shortly before his death the fictional Marcus Aurelius asked Maximus to lead the empire. In fact, a conflict in Marcus Aurlieus' mind was whether to return power to the Senate rather than have it mostly be with the emperor. This is unlikely as Marcus Aurlieus, although often considered a wise emperor and even called the "philosopher king," as suggested in the film, he still believed in holding power closely and even passed power to his son, something a Roman Emperor had not done for about a century.ad/>

In fact, Marcus Aurlieus appointed his son as successor long before he died Something not shown in 166 (he died in 180 CE), making it clear the film is that Comodus was his choice all alonggladiator contests may have looked familiar to us. He also died in Vienna (ancient Vindobona)Gladiators often were used to sponsoring products, but the film showed him dying and billboards often hung in Germania during the campaignstadium where contests would have been held. His appoint of his son was controversial, as These advertisements were not shown in the film, as Commodus was considered erratic and likely had mental problems, as indicated in mostly because the producers thought filmaudiences would not believe it since it is so similar to our modern sports. However<ref>For more on advertising in the Roman world, from historical documentssee: Bomgardner, mainly in D. L. (2002). <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415301858/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415301858&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=23f8ea6b9900470adc695008478dd264 The story of the writings of Cassius DioRoman amphitheater].</i> London; New York: Routledge, there is indication that Marcus Aurlieus was disappointed in his son, suggesting he had some trepidation about himpg. 55. </ref>

In the film, after Maximus was taken captured trying to revolt against the emperor. He was shown as fighting the emperor in a slaveone on one contest. This match would have never happened. First, not before he discovered that his wife and son were killed by Commodusdied in a coup event in 192 rather than at Maximus's hand, he was as shown in the final combat scene in the film. Second, Commodus, as being transported and eventually enslaved as a gladiator shown in a far away eastern province the movie, did fight in the Roman Empire (somewhere arena. However, he probably only fought in the Middle East)events where he has assured victories against animals or crippled captives. The film does suggest this as Commodus does mortally wound Maximus before their fight when Maximus was tied and unable to defend himself.

While the circumstances of how Commodus became emperor in the film are largely not true, there is 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. In fact, excavations at the Colosseum showed a variety of exotic animals were present there. This included<div class="portal" style='float: bears, lions, hyena, elephant, wild boar, buffalo, tigers, bulls, wolves, and leopards.right; width:35%'>

Gladiators, as suggested in the film, were treated like rock starts. 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 often killed in contests. This may have been de-emphasized in the film====Related DailyHistory.org Articles===={{#dpl:category=Roman History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=12}}</div>

The Colosseum ==Who was the premier event for gladiator contests Maximus Decimus Meridius Based On?==<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 declared himself emperor shortly after its construction thinking Aurelius died in 70-80 CE175, suggesting a brief power struggle. Ambitious trainersStill, similar to how the film depicts he was eventually killed after it, would try to situate themselves so they could compete became clear Aurelius was not dead. A general named Maximus lived in main events that promised large financial rewards. Similar to sport today, the gladiator games had late Roman Empire who may have inspired Gladiator's story of a lot of money that would exchange hands around the eventrevolt against an emperor. This revolved around gambling <ref>For more on the events but also rewards earned by the owners Avidius, see: Canduci, Alexander (2010). <i>Triumph & Tragedy: The Rise and Fall of the gladiator slavesRome’s Immortal Emperors.</i> Roman imperial biographies. Sydney: Pier 9.</ref>

Something not shown ==Who were the Real People portrayed in the film Gladiator?==<u>Commodus</u>: While Commodus is that a historical figure who did hold gladiator contests and may have looked familiar to usbeen 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. Gladiators often were used He was purported to sponsor products and billboards often hung in stadium where have held naked gladiator contests , which would have been heldoutraged some Roman citizens and contributed to his bad reputation and eventual downfall. This was not shown He may have killed 100 lions in the filma day during his gladiator contests and other exotic animals such as elephants. Even by Roman standards, mostly because the producers thought audience would not believe it since it is so similar to our modern sportslevel of slaughter may have caused outrage.

In He even started killing many disabled people in the filmarena, after Maximus was capture trying to revolt against which may have been one of the emperor. He final straws before he was shown as fighting the emperor as a one on one contestassassinated. This would have certainly never happenedHowever, his political actions were also likely unwise. FirstHe tried to declare himself consul and gladiator, Commodus died in a coup event in 192 rather than at where the hand of Maximus, as shown in former is an elected position and the final combat scene in the filmlatter usually only slaves should hold. SecondNarcissus, Commodushis wrestling partner, as shown eventually killed him in the film, did fight in the arena, although he probably only fought in events where he was assured victory such 192 as against animals or crippled captivespart of a larger conspiracy by Roman leaders. The film does suggest this as <ref>For more on Commodus does mortally wound Maximus before their fight, when Maximus was tied and unable to defend himself. Nevertheless, historians indicate he liked to think of himself as Hercules, and even began to dress like him in gladiator contestssee: Adams 2013.</ref>

<u>Lucilla</u>: She was Commodus' sister, and in the film, she was depicted as trying to encourage the conspiracy against her brother. She did conspire to kill Commodus but failed in 182, leading to her death. Unlike what the film depicts, Lucilla was probably ambitious to be a co-ruler with her husband (she is shown as a widow in the movie), which is why she may have conspired against her brother. However, she may not have considered herself a possible ruler until she witnessed her erratic brother's behavior. Unlike the film, Commodus probably did not seek to have an incestuous relationship with his sister.<ref>For more on Lucilla, see: Lightman, M., Lightman, B., & Lightman, M. (2008).<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0816031126/ref=as_li_tl?ie=Main CharactersUTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0816031126&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=e0745e365189f3743bd8492787d85ed5 A to Z of Ancient Greek and Roman women].</i> (Rev. ed). New York: Facts On File, pg. 195.</ref>

<u>Maximus Decimus MeridiusMarcus 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>