hieu 322 Commodus_Research_Paper_HIEU_322.docx 20.pdf

TrentonAdams

HIEU322-D01

April27,2020

TheTruthAboutEventsin

like Russel Crow, who plays Roman General Maximus, and Joaquin Phoenix, who plays

Commodus, the film was sure to be a box office block buster. In fact, the film succeeded in

generating millions of dollars in revenue worldwide. Critics praised the actors for realism and

the amount emotion brought to the screen as they portrayed prominent characters of third

century Rome.1 The film netted several academy awards with scenes packed with action and

brought to light a renewed interest in ancient Roman history.Although the film was a massive

success throughout the world on the big screen, those who wrote the script did not experience

that same success in giving an accurate historical account. It is easy to find historical evidence

that “Gladiator” tells many stories that are not grounded in any research of the individuals or the

issues the Roman Empire faced in the third century.

1 LewRockwell, “A Review of “Gladiator”,” Accessed April 24, 2020.

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2001/03/gary-north/the-monster-marcus-aurelius/.

2 JenniferBarker,“AHeroWillRise:TheMythoftheFascistManinFightClubandGladiator,” Literature- Film

Quarterly 36, no. 3 (July 2008): https://go-gale com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ps/i.do?

p=AONE&u=vic_liberty&id=GALE%7CA184246973&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon.

rule the Roman Empire at the age of nineteen, after his father’s death.3 MarcusAurelius did not

haveahostilerelationshipwithhissonanddidnotdiebyCommodus’hand.Commoduswasthe not an

adopted Emperor like so many of those before him. He was a blood line Emperor that would

reign for twelve years after his father’s death.According to Roman historian Herodian, once

the Senate and even killing several individuals who did not agree with his decisions when it

came to how he governed the Empire.6 These are just a few examples of the insurmountable

evidence that piles up after proper study of Roman history.

In an article written for History Today; London P.T.Wiseman argues that Hollywood

creates many myths of the third century Roman Empire. The story the actors did a great job

telling isnotthe samestoryseenin historicalaccountsofRome.Wiseman’smain issue withthe

movieistheconversationbetweenMarcusAurelias,Commodus,andtwoSenatorsnamedGaius and

Falco. The men went back and forth about restoring the pre-empire Roman Republic and

Quarterly 36, no. 3 (July 2008): go-gale com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ps/i.do?

p=AONE&u=vic_liberty&id=GALE%7CA184246973&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon.

6 UChicago.“RomanHistorybyCassiusDio,”AccessedApril25,2020.

uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/73*.html.

CommodusremindsGaiusthattheSenatehadlessinfluenceintheoldRepublic.7Aconversation of the

multitude would be considered treason punishable by death. The last attempt to return to the old

Republic had been eliminated by the Praetorian Guard.8 Weisman points out that conversations

like the one discusses about is rock solid proof that “Gladiator” is not grounded in true research

The main story line of the movie can also be proven to be dishonest when it comes to the

lives of Commodus and Maximus. Richard Rushton wrote a 2001 article for Cineaction. In this

article Rushton pointed out that Maximus seeking revenge for the murder of his wife and son at

the hand of Commodus is what lead to Commodus’death.9 Looking at the accounts of Herodian

and Dio, Commodus’eventual death came as a result of several reasons. Commodus was not an

Emperor who made friends within the Senate. He took away their power and set down a path of

when he claimed to be Hercules in the flesh and ruthlessly killed people when he was

questioned.11These two examples show how Commodus shaped the climate ofAncient Rome. It

had nothing to do with Maximus and the story the film tells. Commodus was responsible for his

own death because of the instability within the Empire created by his own actions. Rushton’s

article further proves the lack of factual history seen in the “Gladiator” movie.

com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/2179257?pq-origsite=summon.

10 UChicago.“RomanHistorybyCassiusDio,”AccessedApril25,2020.

uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/73*.html.

11 Livius,“Herodian’sRomanHistory,”AccessedApril26,2020.livius.org/sources/content/herodian-s-

roman-history/herodian-1.6/.

One of the last points that shows “Gladiator” as a film that does not respect the real

history of the Roman Empire is an article written by Lasse Thomassen that was published in

2009 in the American Political ScienceAssociation journal. In this articleThomassen mentions

the how film “Gladiator” depicts the restoration of the Roman Republic upon Commodus’

created a period of individual trying to gain control at any cost and there would be no peace

within the Roman Empire.

AncientRome.Thecontroversialstoryline,actionpackedscenes,theclassicgoodandevilstory line,

and the great acting made for a great movie that drew the attention of millions around the

world.Althoughthemoviewonseveralacademyawardsindifferentcategories,theonecategory that

really mattered did not get enough attention. Roman historians like Dio and Herodian provide

actual events that took place during Commodus’reign and how the Empire eventually would

experience a time of civil war. Research is powerful and even though “Gladiator” was a

greatmovie,thehistoricalinaccuracieslimitthemovietojustthatandnotanaccurateaccountof

eventsthattranspiredinthirdcenturyRome.

12 JSTOR, “Gladiator, Violence, and the Founding of a Republic,”AccessedApril 26, 2020. jstor-

Livius, “Herodian’s Roman History,”Accessed April 26, 2020.