Hollywood Versus History

Have you ever wondered how accurate your favorite Roman movie is? This lecture will examine two of the most famous films set in ancient Rome, Ben-Hur (1959) and Gladiator (2000), and reveal the historical accuracy of their plot, sets, costumes, and characters. Discover whether Ben Hur's spectacular chariot race and naval battle are true to life and find out whether Gladiator's thrilling depictions of emperor Marcus Aurelius, his crazed son Commodus, and the lives and deaths of ancient gladiators owe more to fact or fiction. Gregory S. Aldrete is Professor Emeritus of History and Humanities at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.