The Movie "Gladiator" in Historical Perspective

by Allen Ward, University of Connecticut

Original text 2001 Allen Ward
A more extensive version of this paper with documentation can be found in the May 2001 issue of the
NEW ENGLAND CLASSICAL NEWSLETTER, edited by William Wyatt, Jr. necj@brown.edu.

What can a Roman historian say about the movie Gladiator? It was the best of films. It
was the worst of films. One of the best things about this movie is that it is part of a long
line of books, plays, films, and works of art that keep alive interest in the Ancient World
among the general public, something at which artists and writers have been far more
successful over the centuries than professional historians. Unfortunately, the creative
minds who do the most to shape popular views of the past often have little regard for
the level of accuracy that preoccupies professional practitioners of Clios craft. Artists
and writers mine the past for raw materials that support their own creative agenda. Few
writers other than the most scrupulous of historical novelists will ever let the facts that
concern professional historians get between them and paying customers.
As the worst of films, Gladiator provides a perfect example. Right from the opening
scene, the inaccuracies are legion. First, there was no last great battle with the
Germanic tribes on the eve of Marcus Aurelius death. There was a great daylong battle
late in the campaigning season of A.D. 179, but Marcus died on March 17 of 180, just
as he was about to launch another great military campaign. One could say that the
scriptwriters needed to foreshorten the chronology here to save time in a long movie,
but they certainly played fast and loose with some other aspects of the battle. I have
found no attested parallel to the war dog of the Roman commander Maximus, the
movies hero, and if there were one, it would not have been a German shepherd, a
breed that did not exist in Antiquity. The use of fire-hurling catapults and mechanical
dart launchers against the oncoming barbarians was certainly dramatic but probably
unhistorical. By and large such weapons were too cumbersome for use on the open
battlefield and were confined to more static siege warfare.
The whole movie has radically compressed the chronology of the Emperor Commodus
reign. He became sole emperor upon his fathers death in March of 180 and was
assassinated almost thirteen years later on December 31, 192.Although the time
encompassed by Gladiator is not precisely indicated, it would appear that no more
than two years could have elapsed before Commodus was killed. Within that timeframe, however, the script does utilize some historical facts: Commodus was fascinated
with shows of beast hunting, chariot racing, and gladiatorial combat; he did train himself
in those skills; and eventually, to the ultimate scandal of all classes, he fought in the
public arena as the kind of light-armed gladiator known as a secutor (pursuer). In an
inscription, he even boasted of his 620 victories in gladiatorial combat.

Maximus

Are you not entertained?

Fratres! Three weeks from now I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will
be, and it will be so. Hold the line. Stay with me. If you find yourself alone, riding in
green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled; for you are in Elysium, and
you're already dead! [The soldiers laugh] Brothers, what we do in life, echoes in
eternity.

At my signal, unleash hell.

My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius. Commander of the Armies of the North.

General of the Felix Legions. Loyal servant to the true Emperor, Marcus Aurelius.
Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife and I will have my vengeance, in
this life or the next.

[addressing crowd after killing gladiator in solo fight] Are you not entertained? ARE
YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?! Is this not why you're here?!

Gladiator (2000 film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gladiator

Theatrical release poster

Directed by

Ridley Scott

Produced by

Douglas Wick
David Franzoni
Branko Lustig

Screenplay by

David Franzoni
John Logan
William Nicholson

Story by

David Franzoni

Starring

Russell Crowe
Joaquin Phoenix
Connie Nielsen
Oliver Reed
Derek Jacobi
Djimon Hounsou
Richard Harris

Music by

Hans Zimmer
Lisa Gerrard

Cinematography John Mathieson

Edited by

Pietro Scalia

Production
company

Scott Free Productions

Red Wagon Entertainment[1]

Distributed by

DreamWorks Pictures (North America)

Universal Pictures (International)

Release dates

Running time

May 1, 2000 (Los Angeles)

May 5, 2000 (United States)
May 12, 2000 (United Kingdom)

155 minutes[2] (Theatrical cut)

164 minutes[3] (Director's cut)

Country

United States[4]
United Kingdom[5]

Language

English

Budget

$103 million[6][7]

Box office

$457,640,427

Gladiator is a 2000 British-American epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott,
starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Mller, Oliver Reed (in his final
film role), Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel, and Richard Harris. Crowe portrays
the fictional character, loyal Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed when
the emperor Marcus Aurelius's ambitious son, Commodus, murders his father and seizes the
throne. Reduced to slavery, Maximus rises through the ranks of the gladiatorial arena to avenge
the murder of his family and his emperor.
Released in the United States on May 5, 2000, Gladiator was a box office success, received
generally positive reviews, and was credited with rekindling interest in the historical epic. The
film won multiple awards, notably five Academy Awards in the 73rd Academy Awards
including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.

Profile of Regency of East Sumba

Regency of East Sumba is geographically located on 119o45 - 120o52 East Longitude and 9o1610o20 South Latitude.
Regency of East Sumba is adjancent to :
" West : Regency of West Sumba
" East : Sabu Ocean
" North : Sumba Strait
" South : Indian Ocean
Regency of East Sumba that is capitalized in Waingapu has wide area of 7000,50 square
kilometers and is divided into 140 villages, 16 districts and 22 sub-districts.
Main commodity of East Sumba are agriculture, plantation, fishery, livestock and services sector.

Main commodity of agriculture sector are from plantation sub-sector with commodity of cocoa,
coffee, coconut, clove, and cashew, jatropha, kapok, hazelnut, areca nut, tobacco, vanilla and
agriculture sub-sector with commodity of corn, soybean, sweet potato and cassava. Fishery
sector : fresh water pond culture, sea culture and brackish cultivation. Livestock sector : cow,
pig, sheep, goat, buffalo and horse. Main commodity of services sector is tourism, namely
culture and nature tourism.
To support economic's activity, this regency has 1 airport, namely Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport
and 1 seaport, namely Waingapu Port.

Source:
Nusa Tenggara Timur Dalam Angka 2013
(01-9-2007)
Badan Pusat Statistik Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur
Jl. R. Suprapto No. 5 Kelurahan Oebobo Kupang 85111
Telp (0380) 8554535
Fax (0380) 8554535

Tourist Attractions
East Sumba Regency

ART DAN HANDICRAFT

The special characteristics of ikat weaving give important contribution for the fame of East Sumba in the
world. Here, the process of tying plays an important role. Before weaving, thread is tied based on the
pattern decided before. After that, it is died into dye. Up to now, people still use thread which is spun
manually. [+]

DEATH AND FUNERAL

Death is seen as a transition between worldly life and the next. Therefore, funeral has to be done with
special ceremony so that the spirit can enter Praimarapu (heaven) properly. After the corpse kept, even
for years, people do a butchering ceremony where buffalos and horses are slaughtered as an offering to
the spirit. This ceremony is conducted in two stages. [+]

KALALA BEACH
It is 124 Km from Waingapu. The white-sandy beach wave chasing each other makes this beach an
enjoyable place for tourists. There are six home stays in this place. The beach that directly faces the
open sea guarantees special enjoyment for divers, surfers, and those who just want to enjoy the
beach s and mountain s scenery. [+]

LAIWANGI WANGGAMETI NATIONAL PARK

Laiwangi wanggameti national park is located in the south part of the island an is about 100 Km from
Waingapu. There are various kinds of unique biodifersity (flora,fauna,and natural ecosystem). [+]

LAPUTI WATERFALL
This tourism object located in praingkareha village, sub district tabundung,about 115 Km from
waingapu. The waterfall flows all the time through stones.Com and enjoy it your self. On the peak you
can see a sacret lake,where there are sacret eels that you must not catch or eat. According to the belief
of the local people,if someone eats the eels,the person will surely die. [+]

LONDA LIMA BEACH

Londa Lima beach is sometimes known as Kuta beach ( Kuta means betel vine-sirih) because it is
located in Kuta village, about 12 km from Waingapu. It is a white-sandy beach with so many visitors in
holidays. This beach is used for picnic, sun-bathing, and fishing. You can also buy fresh fish caught by
local fisherman. [+]

MATAWAI PARK
It is an interesting place for relaxing spending your spare time with your family. It is located in the centre
of Waingapu with two swimming pools and two springs.

Prailiu Village
Overview
Prailiu is one of the many traditional and exotic villages in Sumba. It is located in a suburb area of
Waingapu, the capital city of East Sumba District about two kilometers away from the city center.
Despite rapid development, traditional tall houses with sharp leaf roofs are still apparent here.
However, you can now see many zinc roof houses with different designs. [+]

PURU KAMBERA BEACH

After one hour trip from Waingapu, you can enjoy the beauty of the beach. It is also an amazing place
for relaxing, diving, doing sport and other activities. This tourism object is located in Mondu village, sub
district Haharu, about 26 Km from Waingapu.

TARIMBANG BEACH
It is a half-circled white-sandy beach with beautiful sea, and located in Tarimbang village, sub district
Tabundung about 120 Km from Waingapu. The beach which is also located in south part of Sumba island
is used by tourist for sun-bathing, swimming, diving, surfing and water skiing. Besides that you can also
enjoy the nine-level wave. [+]

TRADITIONAL DANCE
TRADITIONAL DANCE
Various traditional dances in East Sumba are presented in ritual ceremonies, stagings and government
activities, companied by traditional songs, gong, traditional drum and musical instrument from bamboo
(nggu nggi and jungg ga au). [+]

TRADITIONAL HOUSE
It has sharp and pointed roof, looks like a tower in which heirlooms (Tanggu Marapu) are kept. Each
traditional house has three sides : underside, middle side and upper side, reflecting natural symbol in
Sumbanese view which are : under world (place of spirit), middle world (place of mankind) and upper
world (place of goods). [+]

WALAKIRI BEACH

It is located in Watukamba, sub district Pandawai about 24 Km from Waingapu. It is a beautiful

place for to relax and enjoy the sunrise