Gladiator: How Historically Accurate is it? | Deep Dives | Deep Dives

Historian and host of 'The Ancients' podcast, Tristan Hughes, dives deep into the historical accuracy of Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator'. The battle over the film's accuracy has been waged since its release. Tristan unpicks what Gladiator gets right and what it gets very wrong.

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00:00 Introduction
00:35 First Battle
07:41 Maximus and Marcus Aurelius
10:36 Commodus Arrives in Rome
14:08 Slavery in Roman Empire
17:11 Gladiators Enter Rome
19:47 Colosseum Battle: Carthage
25:54 Maximus Reveals His Identity
29:01 Maximus vs The Veteran
34:07 Final Fight: Maximus vs Commodus
40:49 Conclusion

#historyhit #moviereview #ancientrome

[oweneasty]

Would 100% recommend Tristan’s podcast “the ancients” I listen to it nearly every night before I go to sleep. Interviews incredible historians on some of the most fascinating times of the ancient world such as Greece, Rome, Egypt etc. - great video HH. Gladiator although inaccurate is my favourite movie.

[balltillwefall]

This dude is great. He knows his stuff and doesn't get hung up in every little thing that's out of place. He calls it out when necessary, tells his opinion on why they did what they did all the while giving great info. If he isn't/wasn't a teacher he should be. This is the type of engaging teaching we need in today's schools to keep kids interested.

[JonAndrewSyring]

Marcus Aurelius was a stoicist and hated to get up in the morning. I thought that was interesting, seeing some relatable humanity in a usually distant historical figure. Also, one of my favorite movie quotes is when the old gladiator is killed by the soldiers, clutching his wooden sword. He says, "Shadows and dust."

[goatmeal]

My favorite gladiator fact is that they would be sponsored by merchants, and would yell advertisements to the crowd that they recommend a certain brand of olive oil etc. It's so cheesy and modern feeling it seems anachronistic, but it's one of those things (like having the four teams of chariot drivers and pioneering the phenomenon of people being die-hard fans of a TEAM based on its abstract colors rather than its actual athletes which get traded around) that really hits home how similar Romans were in some ways to modern people.

[margarance]

It is utterly and entirely your fault that I now have to revisit Gladiator and the evening will end in tears. As someone else said, historical bollocks, but sheer movie bliss. 🙄

[DJMarcO]

"How accurate is it?"

Not very. But it was still entertaining.

[duncanrobson]

All respect to Tristan that he can just look at the busts & recognise who they are 👏🏼

[ExUSSailor]

An entertaining movie, just don't mistake it for history. Same goes for movies like "Braveheart", or, "The Last Samurai".

[shoppingforleaves]

i find it hard to believe this man is ~2000 years old.

[WMW-]

One of the best movie sound tracks ever in my opinion, Hans Zimmer such a talented composer who has done work on some of the biggest movies of the past 2 decades

[melissahall]

I could watch a 100 episodes in this series!! More Deep Dives on historical movies!

[markusayasse]

One tidbit I always found fun about the opening battle sequence: at 4:48 when Russel Crowe is turning to stab some dude in the thick of the battle and it turns out to be a Roman soldier, apparently that was an extra who was legitimately afraid of ruining the sequence for a moment telling Crowe “wait! I’m not supposed to die yet!” because he was so focused on hitting his mark right. So that’s why Crowe gives that huge grin before turning away again. I don’t remember where I heard this, so it could be totally wrong, but I just think it’s a fun little unscripted moment in a wonderful movie.

[vitoravila]

18:30 - this appears to be the Ludus Magnus, a barracks and gladiator school that was indeed right next to the Coliseum, it’s ruins are visible until today

[Captain_Kremmen]

As a historical document, Gladiator is bollocks, but as entertainment it's great.

[windsweptjoe]

It's refreshing to see a historian see historic movies for what they are, entertainment and are a gateway to learning about actual history. It's a shame some Youtube Historians don't have the same outlook.

[mattstakeontheancients]

Love the HH podcast and this movie is a top 3 for me. When he tell Comidus his name no matter how many times I hear is my favorite scene.

[firingallcylinders]

Welp time to fire up Rome Total War II

[OcarinaSapphr-]

I'm surprised that when he started talking about chariot racing, that he didn't reveal that it was much more popular than gladiator fights - the _Circus Maximus_ held *significantly more* spectators than the biggest _amphitheater_ (the Flavian Amphitheater, or Colosseum- as we know it, now)- the races were **the** Roman obsession...

[joannemcfadden]

Thank you! One of my favorite movies of all time.

[annkelly]

Fantastic video!
Great commentary.I love how Mr. Hughes understands the value of entertainment & how it can lead some down the road to learn the history behind the movie & develop a love of history.