Loosely based on Daniel P. Mannix’s 1958 novel Those About to Die, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator is more of a semi-biographical film. The protagonist, Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russel Crowe), never existed, but he is more of a composite character, inspired by several Roman generals and gladiators, notably Maximus Decimus Meridius. The film’s other key figures — Commodus, Lucilla, Marcus Aurelius — are all real historical figures.
- Release Date
- May 5, 2000
- Cast
- Russell Crowe , Joaquin Phoenix , Connie Nielsen , Oliver Reed , Richard Harris , Derek Jacobi , Djimon Hounsou , David Schofield , John Shrapnel , Tomas Arana , Ralf Moeller , Spencer Treat Clark , David Hemmings , Tommy Flanagan , Sven-Ole Thorsen , Omid Djalili , Nicholas McGaughey , Chris Kell , Tony Curran , Mark Lewis , John Quinn , Alun Raglan , David Bailie , Chick Allan , David J. Nicholls , Al Hunter Ashton , Billy Dowd , Giannina Facio , Giorgio Cantarini
- Runtime
- 155 minutes
Aiming to portray Roman culture and the period (the latter half of the 2nd century AD) more accurately than previous sword-and-sandal films, director Ridley Scott hired several historians as consultants. Still, there were a few inaccuracies. For example, Marcus Aurelius never banned gladiatorial games in Rome as shown in the movie. The real Aurelius banned games only in Antioch. Commodus was not killed in the Colosseum either. He was strangled in his bath by the wrestler Narcissus. Still, the film gets several small but clever details right.
7 The Symbol of Freedom (Given to a Gladiator after Earning Their Freedom)
According to the book, Sacred Places of Goddesses, by historian, Katen Tate, a freed slave was given a pileus (cap), symbolizing his freedom. In the movie, Antonius Proximo — a wealthy slave owner (who also owns Maximus) — is seen wearing such a cap. In the film, we learn that Proximo himself was a Gladiator who earned his freedom through acts of bravery and was eventually freed by Marcus Aurelius.
Roman Culture Was More Flexible That Others
This little detail serves as a reminder that the Roman Empire had a more flexible slave culture than other societies. In many other regions, the fate of slaves was permanently sealed once they began working for their masters, but in Rome, freedom could be achieved, through various means, including “winning the crowd,” a strategy that Proximo advises Maximus to use.
The book further reveals that once a slave had earned their freedom, the master brought them before the magistratus, and stated the reasons (causa) for manumission. The magistratus then laid a rod (festuca) on the head of the slave, and that was it.
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6 The Prolonged Macromannic Wars
Gladiator opens with one of the greatest movie battle scenes. The year is 180 CE, and the Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius is leading the Roman army to victory against Germanic tribes in Vindobona. The Roman Empire indeed found itself in a prolonged conflict against the Germanic tribes. Their endless confrontations were referred to as the Macromannic Wars, and Marcus Aurelius spent much of his reign trying to secure the northern frontier.
Through the War, We Get a Glimpse of Maximus’ Abilities
The inclusion of this battle scene serves several purposes in the movie. First, it makes audiences aware of how competent the protagonist is, hence they feel compelled to take him seriously for the rest of the film. Additionally, it helps us understand why the bond between Maximus and Marcus is strong. Because every boss loves a hard-working employee, Marcus loves Maximus for always delivering victory, hence the reason he begins grooming him for leadership.
5 The Use of the Gladius (Tiny Sword)
For a non-fighter, it would seem like a long sword would be ideal to use in battle and the arena. After all, you won’t have to get too close to the opponent. However, this wasn’t the case in Rome. The Gladius (tiny sword), was preferred because it was harder to block and caused more damage. According to M. C. Bishopl's book, The Gladius: The Roman Short Sword, General Scipio Africanus was the promoter of the switch to the Gladius after witnessing the superior weapons of the enemies during the Battle of Cartagena in 209 BC.
The Fights Are Tenser Because of the Gladius
Most movies about the Roman Empire often ignore this little detail, opting to showcase a wide range of weapons to create a spectacle. Such a move is acceptable in Hollywood, but Ridley Scott’s Gladiator proved that fight sequences can still be entertaining if you stick to history. Except for Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus, no film rivals the kind of warfare and gladiatorial warfare we see here. Other little details like the sword scabbard and belt are also captured accurately.
4 The Hostility between the Praetorian Guard and the Legion
After Commodus proclaims himself the new emperor and requests loyalty from Maximus, the protagonist refuses. Maximus is then arrested by Praetorian Guards to be executed but manages to escape. As he is fleeing, he calls one of the guards “Praetorian” in a derisive way, before killing them. What’s so insulting about being “Praetorian”?
Praetorian Guards Were Seen as Lazy and Privileged
The Praetorian Guard were the Roman Emperor’s personal security and intelligence network, protecting him from physical and the dangers that sprouted from political machinations. More like the Secret Service, the guards mostly stayed in Rome in comfort and safety, while the legionaries risked their lives on the battlefield. The average legionnaire thus had no respect for the Praetorian.
3 Marcus Aurelius as a Stoic/Philosophical Leader
Apart from Julius Ceasar and Caligula, most Roman Emperors have always been depicted the same way in movies. They are either malevolent dictators or compassionate rulers. In Gladiator, Marcus Aurelius stands out from other movie Emperors because he subscribes to stoicism and philosophy at large. His views about Stoic philosophy can be seen in Meditations, a series of personal writings he wrote from 161 to 180 AD.
Leadership and Wisdom
The depiction of Marcus Aurelius as a stoic philosopher adds a shiny layer to his character, making him one of the most iconic leaders/rulers in movies. and helps audiences understand his choices much better. Stoics believe that “virtue is the only good,” and mostly embrace the concepts of wisdom, courage, justice, and moderation. Maximus has all these qualities and that’s why Marcus favors him. Commodus lacks all these qualities, and that’s why Marcus sees him as unfit to rule.
2 The Use of Auxilia
A few non-Roman fighters can be spotted in Gladiator, but the diversity isn’t just an invention for the movie. The idea of using the Auxilia (auxiliaries) in battle was conceived by Emperor Augustus after he reorganized the Imperial Roman army at around 27 BC. By the 2nd century, almost all of the Roman army's cavalry was made up of the Auxilia.
Rome as a Diverse Society
Ridley Scott does well by acknowledging that Rome wasn’t an Empire of one tribe or race. There were people from all backgrounds and most of them were happy to be around. Various ancient texts reveal that auxiliary recruits were mostly volunteers, not conscripted individuals, hence we can rule out the notion that they were only hired to do the tough work that naturally born Romans couldn’t do.
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1 The Legions of the Rhine Frontier and their role in Determining who Gets Power
The Rhine legions were crucial in determining whether someone ascended to power and how long they kept power. In the movie, Marcus Aurelius becomes more influential after stabilizing the region. Because of his achievements, he could set his rules and channel his desires (like his wish for Maximus to succeed him) without facing much opposition.
Marcus Aurelius Employs a Working Formula
This is a correct reflection of history, as control of the Rhine regions was crucial for maintaining Rome’s stability. Victories in the lagoons also elevated a general’s status. For example, the territory was crucial during the Year of the Four Emperors (69 AD). After Nero’s death, Vitellius rose to power after getting support from the Rhine legions. Various short-lived emperors also ruled during the Crisis of the Third Century, where power changed hands frequently because of instability in the Rhine.
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