Did the Romans really fight rhinos? Sports historian explains the truth behind the fight scenes in Ridley Scott's Gladiator II

In the trailer for Ridley Scott's highly anticipated sequel to Gladiator (2000), a new gladiator (played by Paul Mescal) goes into battle in “the greatest temple Rome has ever built – the Colosseum.”

He encounters naval warfare, a murderous promoter (Denzel Washington) and a stomping rhino. But how much of this really happened in Roman times? As always with films based in the past, pedantic historians will step in to assess the degree of cinematic freedom and historical misinterpretation. It's the same with the upcoming Gladiator II.

Did gladiators fight rhinos?

One thing that certainly didn't happen was a warrior mounted on a rhinoceros (even if it wasn't a computer-generated rhinoceros) charging at a group of gladiators. However, there are records of a rhinoceros at the inauguration of the Colosseum in 80 AD. It fought not against men, but against a bull, a bear, a buffalo, a bison, a lion and two oxen. The other rare mentions of rhinos in Rome refer to menageries, which can be admired as exotic animals.

This Roman interest in foreign, wild animals was the basis for the first animal spectacles, which took place in 275 BC. began with an exhibition of captured war elephants. Such non-violent depictions of animals continued into the imperial period, but in 186 B.C. The first staged animal hunt took place in the 1st century BC (venatio), with lions and leopards, took place in 169 BC. In the 4th century BC, animal hunts were an official part of republican state festivals.

Later, under the emperors, the collection and transport of animals, particularly unusual and foreign animals that were displayed but more often killed, demonstrated the power of the empire, territorial control, and the vastness of the empire. Thousands of animals were brought from Africa and elsewhere to Roman arenas to be slaughtered for entertainment, and the flesh of the dead animals was given away to spectators (which was easier than trying to dispose of the many carcasses).

Those who fought the beasts were not gladiators, but specially trained hunters (venatores) armed with spears. The venatio There could also be fights between animals, such as the Colosseum rhinoceros, but most often the fight consisted of a bull versus an elephant or bear. Animal hunts outlived gladiator fights as a source of spectator entertainment, but as both the size of the empire and the empire's resources shrank, more emphasis was placed on domestically bred “wild” animals.

Were there sea battles in the Colosseum?

The film's staged naval battle can be given more credibility from a historical perspective (Naumachy) in the flooded Colosseum. Such spectacles were expensive to stage and were reserved for special occasions.

The first record is from Emperor Augustus in 2 BC. The event took place on an artificial lake and consisted of 30 large ships with about 3,000 marines and an undetermined number of rowers. participants in one NaumachyThey were expected to kill or drown each other, typically either convicted criminals or prisoners of war. However, their demonstration of fighting ability and courage could earn them a pardon.

The largest sea battle was fought by Emperor Claudius on Lake Fucinus, a spectacle involving 100 ships and around 19,000 marines and rowers. At this event, the fighting men reportedly said, “Hail, Emperor, we are about to die, salute you,” which is incorrectly attributed to the gladiators in so many films, including the first “Gladiator.”

According to literary sources (which are not always trustworthy in antiquity, as they were often written long after alleged events), the Colosseum was flooded at its inauguration because of a sea battle. After some debate, historians now believe that the technical mechanisms were in place so that the Colosseum could have accommodated one person, at least in its early days Naumachy.

Did a thumbs down really mean death for a gladiator?

Gladiator II also shows the misinterpreted sporting legacy of the thumbs-up signal to spare a defeated gladiator who was begging for mercy, or the opposite of a thumbs-down sign from those who wished his death.

The arena was a large, noisy place and hand signals were often used as a means of communication. In fact, the defeated warrior himself, instead of verbally asking for mercy, raised the index finger of his right hand or even the hand itself, both of which were acknowledged requests for mercy.

If the crowd decided on the death of a fighter, they also indicated this Police on the backliterally a twisted thumb, with no indication of direction. When the hand was waved, the sign meant that the victor should cut the gladiator's throat. Those who wanted to save the defeated but courageous fighter gave the signal pollice compressoa pinched thumb, but often hidden from view so as not to cause visual confusion.

Gladiators were valuable assets. The promoters, who had paid a hiring fee (typically 10-20% of their value) for the fight, were reluctant to take on the full asset value demanded as compensation in the event of her death. Especially when, at the insistence of the crowd, they could have a choice in the matter.

In many cases, the event was promoted to gain the favor of spectators, so going against their wishes would be counterproductive. However, it is questionable whether the ultimate decision maker gave a thumbs up or a thumbs down. The idea that this happened seems to have developed around 1872 with the popularity of a painting by the French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme. In it he shows Vestals giving the dreaded sign. Although titled “Pollice Verso,” it was commonly referred to as a “thumbs-down painting.”

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