Ancient Historian Slams Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II’: “Ridley, We’ve Talked About This!”

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I was simply blown away when I stepped into the cinema to witness the return of Ridley Scott with “Gladiator II” last November. This captivating production boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nelson, and Denzel Washington. The story unfolds in 211 AD, during the rule of joint emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Heschinger).

Sixteen years after the original “Gladiator,” we find ourselves following Lucius (Mescal) on a relentless quest for vengeance that ultimately lands him in the heart of the Colosseum as a slave. This sequel is nothing short of epic, with action sequences that will leave your jaw dropped and performances that are truly phenomenal.

However, it’s essential to remember that “Gladiator II” should not be considered an accurate depiction of history, as it features some startling inaccuracies.

Roel Konijnendijk, a scholar specializing in ancient military history at the University of Oxford, recently discussed scenes from the movie “Gladiator II” with Insider. He started by evaluating the film’s opening siege in Numidia, where he found the depiction of Roman warships to be accurate, stating they were based on authentic Roman ship designs. However, a significant concern was raised regarding the plot point: “‘Historically speaking, this doesn’t align. Numidia had been under control for centuries earlier,’” Konijnendijk pointed out. Despite this discrepancy, he was impressed by the design of the Numidian fort in the movie.

It’s fascinating to observe a city constructed over the sea. Its protective barriers stretch all the way to the waterline, and you can clearly make out a double fortification. Interestingly, there seems to be a multi-layered defense system in place as well, which was quite prevalent historically for larger urban areas.

Were There Ever Really Rhinos in the Colosseum?

Despite encountering some challenges during the scene, Roel Konijnendijk expressed disagreement with a significant aspect of the action sequence. “And then, then catapults begin launching fireballs… and I thought to myself, ‘Ridley, we discussed this!'” He further explained, “Catapults are always depicted throwing fireballs in these movies. Historically, they didn’t. They wouldn’t do that. Why would you do that? You’re essentially setting your own ships ablaze. It’s a terrible idea.

Indeed, as Konijnendijk observed during a reenactment in the Colosseum, it appears unlikely that there’s any historical evidence supporting a person riding a rhinoceros in ancient times. The portrayal of a rhino-riding gladiator in this scene struck the historian as implausible, even suggesting that Lucius should have perished during the fight given the ferocity of the rhino. However, against all odds, Lucius managed to survive the encounter, which seemed rather incredible to Konijnendijk considering the size and power of a rhinoceros. The overall depiction of the Colosseum and gladiatorial combat in this scene was reminiscent of ancient times, but the specific representation of the rhino fight was far from accurate. He further elaborated:

Gladiatorial contests frequently incorporated wild animals as part of the entertainment. These creatures would be released into the arena for gladiators to hunt. The exotic nature of these animals added to the grandeur of the spectacle. There is historical proof suggesting that rhinoceroses were present in the Flavian Amphitheater, though it remains uncertain if they ever engaged in combat with humans.

Roel Konijnendijk gave Gladiator II a 5 out of 10. In his opinion, there are aspects that one enjoys watching on screen. However, he found the execution to be quite unrefined and chaotic.

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2025-01-14 18:01