Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Gladiator II.
Historian Lauren D. Ginsberg addresses the accuracy of Gladiator IIare rhinos and baboons. After being captured and enslaved by the Romans, Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal) and several other captives are thrown into an arena with wild baboons to see if they have what it takes to be a gladiator. Later, when Lucius and others Gladiator II Characters fight in the much larger arena of the Colosseum, they face many deadly threats, including a rhinoceros ridden by a gladiator.
When speaking with TodayGinsberg, who is professor of classical studies and theater studies at Duke University, reveals how realistic it was for a rhino and a baboon to be included in the gladiator games of Ancient Rome. She explains that it was common to include rhinos in gladiatorial games at the Colosseum and other Roman arenas. However, there is no historical evidence to confirm that a rhinoceros was ever ridden by a gladiator. As for baboons, she says there is evidence of monkeys being used, but they have never been the most popular animals in the games. Check out her comments below:
[Rhinoceroses] they look interesting, but also because they are really angry creatures, or at least the way they were treated made them very angry in the arena, so they were often unpredictable, which was exciting.
Nobody was riding these wild animals. And part of that is these were highly trained, very valuable athletes, so you don’t really want to put them in danger.
The only reference I could find was that Antoninus Pius was, at that time, credited with offering the greatest possible Roman games of all time, which every emperor received, so each time there had to be more. He brought monkeys from Africa, but they don’t seem to have been the highlight of that show. They were there, but they weren’t the most famous animals. He also had rhinos. And people liked them more.
There has been a whole industry of people, from the moment you decided, “I want an elephant from Africa,” who would be responsible for catching it, storing it, transporting it on a boat, getting it to where it needs to go. . being, under the Colosseum, making sure he doesn’t die and then making sure he’s ready to go out and give people the show you want.
Gladiators would never be handcuffed because they are valued athletes. You came to see them fight, so handcuffing them just wouldn’t be interesting. But, prisoners, you absolutely wanted them to have no escape and you also wanted them to die in the most dehumanizing way possible. As I tell my students, the Romans are idiots. Very interesting, but they are idiots.
What this means for Gladiator II
The true story enhances the film
Gladiator II It aims to be more of an entertaining historical epic than an accurate adaptation of Roman history. In that sense, the sequel is a successful film, especially considering some of the ways in which it takes place. Ginsberg’s comments highlight that rhinos were used and were a popular choice, although this is embellished by the inaccurate inclusion of a gladiator riding the creature. The fact that baboons are less popular than rhinos is also consistent with the film, as Lucius faces a rhino in the Colosseum and the baboons in a much smaller arena.
From Lucius to Emperor Geta to Emperor Caracalla, many of the characters are based on or inspired by real historical figures from Gladiator II. The cruelty of Emperor Geta, Emperor Caracalla, and the gladiatorial games is consistent with Ginsberg’s underlying lesson what “Romans are idiots.” Regardless of whether the rhino was being ridden by a gladiator or the gladiators were shackled, the dehumanization and relentless spectacle behind gladiatorial games remains the same in reality and fiction.
Gladiator II’s historical elements are beneficial on multiple levels
Ginsberg’s comments are a fascinating look at how Gladiator IIthe use of wild animals is not as exaggerated as one might assume. The blockbuster sequel is beneficial in generating more interest in history as it leads to natural curiosity about historical accuracy or lack thereof when it comes to the gladiatorial games and with individuals like Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla. Gladiator II is a fun action spectacle that also contains story elements and has something meaningful to say about corrupt politics.
Source: Today