As a historian and Classics professor with a lifelong passion for ancient Rome, I must say that Gladiator II has left me both entertained and perplexed. The spectacle it offers is truly captivating, but some of its portrayals veer into the realm of preposterousness.
In Gladiator II, fans were excitedly expecting a portrayal of ancient Roman lifestyle as advertised, and they got just that when the follow-up to the 2000 historical epic premiered on November 15. Starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington under Ridley Scott’s direction, this film has been criticized by Shadi Bartsch, a Classics professor at the University of Chicago, for taking more artistic license than historically accurate.
In a recent conversation with People Magazine, Bartsch found it hard to believe that the movie depicted Romans entertaining themselves with sharks and rhinoceroses in the Colosseum as a pastime, remarking, “It’s amusing, yet unbelievable.
In the opening part of the trailer, when a rhinoceros enters, larger than life with someone riding on its back, I found myself torn between laughing or screaming, Bartsch said to the publication. He further mentioned that while he comprehends Hollywood’s desire for grandeur and intensity, in this particular scene from Gladiator II, they perhaps went a little overboard with their exaggeration.
She further mentioned that certain wild aspects in the movie were indeed drawn from research and historical facts. For instance, Romans often showcased a variety of foreign animals in their amphitheaters, primarily for entertainment as they were made to fight or be killed. At times, these animals served to symbolize the Roman Empire’s power and expansion. According to Bartsch, animals from Asia and Africa came to symbolize the Romans’ dominion over all they surveyed.
What animals were included on the list? To answer your question, it was a mix of exotic ones such as elephants, big cats, ostriches, and others that made it. Contrary to what’s shown in the film, Romans didn’t use the one-horned Asian rhinoceroses, but they did appreciate the two-horned African rhinos that were portrayed in the movie. Bartsch pointed out that a scene in the film depicting a rhino’s head being served at a banquet is probably not accurate, as historical records don’t suggest nobles consumed such creatures.
According to the evidence, it appears that the slain animals were dismembered and distributed among the audience for them to consume at home. However, it’s important to note that providing an entire rhinoceros for a nobleman’s banquet was not part of the practice. Bartsch clarified this point.
In the movie Gladiator II, the depiction of hairless baboons is not consistent with historical facts, because according to Bartsch, there’s no evidence that baboons or any other apes were involved in combats during ancient Roman times, as they were quite uncommon back then.
Discussing the movie’s standout fight sequence set amidst treacherous shark-filled seas, Bartsch clarified that no real sharks were actually present in the filming location. This was largely due to the practical challenges involved in transporting marine life.
Gladiator II is playing in theaters now.
Read More
- SOL PREDICTION. SOL cryptocurrency
- SUI PREDICTION. SUI cryptocurrency
- Chainsaw Man Chapter 183: Flashback To See Aki And Power Return; Release Date, Where To Read, Expected Plot And More
- DOT PREDICTION. DOT cryptocurrency
- USD MYR PREDICTION
- ‘The Case Book of Arne’ Video Game to Receive Anime Adaptation
- ‘Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir’ Gets Anime Twist
- I’ll Become A Villainess Who Goes Down In History Episode 8: Release Date, Where To Stream, Expected Plot And More
- Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 Episode 3 Release Date, Where To Stream, Expected Plot And More
- SKL PREDICTION. SKL cryptocurrency
2024-11-23 12:23