Film director Ridley Scott’s new movie, Gladiator II, has sparked outrage among historians and enthusiasts due to alleged historical inaccuracies. The film features scenes set in the Colosseum, including a shark-filled arena and gladiators riding rhinos.
Historian Dr. Shadi Bartsch from the University of Chicago has criticized the film, calling one scene “Total Hollywood bullshit.” He argues that sharks were not present in the Roman Colosseum, and the use of fresh water instead of saltwater would have been necessary to depict a historical event accurately.
Dr. Bartsch also points out that gladiators did charge into battle with rhinos, but the two-horned breed depicted in the film is inaccurate. Furthermore, he notes that Romans read news on giant stone tablets at designated locations, not through newspapers.
Ridley Scott has responded to criticism, saying that the Colosseum was indeed flooded with water and that sea battles took place there. However, he acknowledges that sharks were not present in the arena.
Despite these inaccuracies, Gladiator II is set to arrive on November 22, 2024.
Source: https://cosmicbook.news/gladiator-ii-controversy-sharks-rhinos-newspapers