Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II is set to release on November 22, but early screenings have ignited a storm of criticism from scholars of ancient Rome concerning its historical inaccuracies. The 150-minute film includes implausible scenes, such as a flooded Colosseum filled with sharks, which Dr. Shadi Bartsch, a classics professor at the University of Chicago, criticizes as ‘Total Hollywood bullshit.’ She highlights that Romans were likely unaware of what sharks were, despite naval battles occurring in the arena.
Another claimed historical fact involves rhinos, which Bartsch states was depicted incorrectly as gladiators riding a two-horn variant. In reality, only one-horned rhinos existed in ancient Rome and there’s no evidence they were ridden in battles. Additionally, a disturbing anachronism shows a Roman noble sipping tea in a cafe while reading a newspaper, a scenario considered impossible 1,200 years before the printing press was invented.
Scott appears unfazed by this historical nitpicking, recalling similar criticism he faced for his film, Napoleon. He notes that by 2024, such conversations are largely speculative, reinforcing his artistic liberties.
This examination of Gladiator II illustrates a pattern of artistic interpretation challenging strict historical accuracy.