Renowned historian Dr. Shadi Bartsch has criticized director Ridley Scott’s sequel to the 2000 film “Gladiator,” calling it “total Hollywood bullshit.” The film, which hits theaters on November 22, features a scene depicting a flooded Coliseum teeming with sharks and another showing a Roman gladiator facing off against a rhinoceros. Bartsch points out that Romans were unfamiliar with sharks and that the poem written by a Roman poet in 80 A.D. referred to a single-horned Indian rhino, not the two-horned species used in the film.
Bartsch also takes issue with the inclusion of modern elements, such as a Roman nobleman reading a newspaper, which did not exist until the 18th century. However, she argues that while some inaccuracies may not have significant consequences, they can contribute to misconceptions about history. She wonders if dramatization is necessary for good cinema and suggests exploring more nuanced topics, such as the reasons behind Roman enjoyment of gladiatorial combat.
The film’s box office will ultimately decide its success, but Bartsch’s comments highlight the tension between artistic expression and historical accuracy in Hollywood productions.
Source: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/chicago-historian-inaccuracies-in-gladiator-ii-2563215