As a gamer with a deep-rooted interest in history, I find the revelation about lead poisoning in Ancient Rome utterly fascinating. It’s like playing a game of “Civilization” and suddenly realizing that the Romans weren’t just prone to internal strife due to their political system or power struggles, but also because they were unwittingly ingesting toxic substances!
In the newly released film titled “Gladiator II“, we find the twin emperors, Geta and Caracalla portrayed by Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn, who display an unsettling degree of instability, at the very least.
In the 2000’s movie “Gladiator”, Joaquin Phoenix portrayed Emperor Commodus as not only ruthless but also mentally unstable, beyond just being irritable.
According to director Ridley Scott, there is a very specific historical reason for this.
Scott pointed out in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the affluent Roman senators often resided near water sources, supplied through lead pipes and tanks. This fact is not commonly considered. Essentially, the people had a choice between water and wine. However, by the time they drank the water, it might have passed through a 200-year-old lead system. It’s no surprise that many of them exhibited signs of confusion or cognitive decline, as if they were on the brink of Alzheimer’s.
It’s been reported by Science magazine that “Noble Romans often consumed drinks prepared in lead containers and directed spring water into their homes via lead pipes.” Apart from causing bodily harm, excessive lead exposure can lead to psychological problems like depression, mood swings, irritability, and trouble focusing or remembering. Recent analyses of Roman pipes suggest that Ancient Rome’s water contained 100 times more lead than what is considered safe today. However, scientists have found that these elevated levels were not sufficient to cause the decline of the Roman Empire, as some scholars have hypothesized in the past.
Still, regular doses of lead mixed with massive amounts wealth and power could arguably inspire some regal volatility.
In a fresh interview with THR, Scott shared that the initial version of Gladiator II clocked in at almost four hours and has been praised by critics as his finest work in years. He hinted at the possibility of a longer cut being made available at some point, and even disclosed plans for Gladiator III.
In the sequel titled “Gladiator II“, we see Paul Mescal portraying Lucius, a character who returns to Rome following the tragic death of his father at the hands of his uncle. Driven by anger and with the fate of the empire hanging in the balance, Lucius seeks solace in the past, searching for the courage and integrity required to restore Rome’s former grandeur to its people.
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2024-11-21 18:24