...Dylan Dr. Lucas 26 April 2011 Classical Archaeology Gladiator Report Gladiator Basics Gladiators were mostly armed combatant whose primary occupation was to entertain audiences in the vast Roman Empire. These were mostly violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals from far off lands, and condemned criminals. Who were the gladiators? Some gladiators were volunteers who would risk their legal and social statuses and lives by being given an appearance in the gladiatorial arena. Any prizes awarded to gladiators could be kept and sold for money. Although gladiators fought only about 4-5 times a year they were well paid during training and for fights. However, the majority of gladiators prisoners of war and slaves who were not paid (Alchin). Many of these people were forced into becoming a gladiator and many of them were sentenced to execution by the sword in the arena or to fight until death as a gladiator. At the height of the gladiatorial games, free men began enrolling as new gladiators, most of them ex-soldiers. However, even a number of wealthy Romans volunteered. Some just for the glory and others to pay off their debts. The majority of gladiators were allowed to keep any prizes or gifts they had won or acquired during gladiatorial games. In turn, if someone became an incredibly successful gladiator, the profit gained could prove to be extremely high. No matter the gladiator’s country of origin, social status, or previous lifestyle, these...
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...EAST WEST UNIVERSITY MOVIE REVIEW OF “GLADIATOR” SUBMITTED TO: Nazia Manzoor Lecturer English SUBMITTED BY: Nusrat Jahan Nishi SUBJECT: ENG102 SECTION: 5 Date: 30/11/2011 History made History “Gladiator” Gladiator is a historical epic film directed by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, Jorhn Shrapnel and Richard Harris. Released in the United States on May 5, 2000, Gladiator was a box office success, receiving positive reviews, and was credited with briefly reviving the historical epic. Channel 4 (UK TV) poll named it as the sixth greatest film of all time. The film was nominated for and won multiple awards, particularly five Academy Awards in the 73rd Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor (Russell Crowe), Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, Best Sound (Bob Beemer, Scott Millan and Ken Weston) Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves Maximus family condemned to death. The powerful general...
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...called gladiators. They were armed combatants that entertained viewers in the Roman Empire in violent fights with other gladiators and animals (“The Roman Gladiator”). However, fighting against animals was rare. Usually, squaring off against animals were uncommon for gladiators. These animals were reserved for “venatores” and “bestiarii.” These people were special warriors. The animals used in the arena ranged from deer to elephants (“10 Things”). Most gladiators were prisoners or war, slaves, or criminals....
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...Gladiators in Rome Gladiators were professional fighter who fought with specific weapons and fought before the public in large built arenas throughout the Roman Empire from 105 BCE to 404 CE (official contests). The fights were usually to the death, but gladiators had a short life expectancy. Majority of the fighters were slaves, former slaves or condemned prisoners. Roman gladiator games were an opportunity for Emperors and rich aristocrats show off their wealth to the populace, to commemorate military victories, celebrate birthdays or simply to distract the populace from the political and economic problems of the day. Spartacus was the most famous gladiator who led an uprising of gladiators and slaves from Capua in 73 BCE. He displayed great military leadership in defeating four Roman armies. When a friend died in battle, Spartacus arranged for three hundred Roman prisoners to fight gladiator contests in honor of his fallen comrade. Emperor Commodus was another famous gladiator. He was a professional as he made sure to draw a fantastic salary for his appearances. He fought in the arena and his most frequent participation was a slaughterer of wild animals on a protected platform using a bow. The gladiator games lasted for nearly a thousand years, reaching their peak between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD. The games finally came to an end during the 5th century after the adoption...
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...What Was Life Like for a Gladiator? Introduction Gladiators were swordsmen that entertained audience members, in the era of the Roman Empire, with harsh and violent actions. Gladiators fought against other gladiators, animals, and criminals. In the battle, gladiators stayed fighting against each other and against animals until one of them stays alive. They fought at arena’s called Colosseum. Most of them were unschooled slaves. They were also set apart even at death. Professional gladiators were often free men who volunteered to participate in the events to gain popularity and escape the low social scale they measured by. In today's essay, we will talk about many things included in the name of a gladiator. History There was an argument about the gladiators origin when a greek philosopher believed that they were Etruscans’ that appeared as gladiators at the late 1st century BC, and a roman historian, Titus Livius, said that gladiators appeared in 310 BC. After a long time, after the game has ended, the 7th century AD writer Isidore of Seville informed that they were Etruscans’. In 216 BC, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, a roman consul, was honored by his sons with three days by organizing matches for three days. These matches had twenty-two pairs of gladiators fighting between each other. The next recorded honor, held for the funeral of Publius Liciniu, also a roman consul, in 183 BC, was more extravagant...
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...(2nd Hour) 28 October, 2013 Gladiators Gladiators were a big part of Roman culture. The gladiatorial games were a common sport form 310BC until the Roman Empire had fallen. For many people, these games were fun to watch and a source of entertainment. To others, such as the ones fighting, it was frightening and some knew that they would never make it out alive. All of this was first recorded in 310BC. The movie Gladiator follows some of what was true about Rome’s gladiator life, but it also has its own little touches that are not historically correct. History and the movie both claim that Commodus was Marcus Aurelius’ son. Also in the movie, it was told that Commodus had killed Marcus Aurelius, which was not true. Commodus was portrayed as a man in his mid twenties and averaged sized, tan, and with dark hair. In real life, Commodus was only 18 and was muscular, fair, and left-handed. In the movie, Commodus was told to not train because he did not need it. The gladiators were trained for a long time and not treated as a well thought-of citizen, but they were higher up than slaves. One thing that was historically correct in both the movie and in history was that Lucilla had a son with Pomeianus. His name was Arelius Commodus Pomeianus. Commodus was a gladiator in both the movie, and in history. A gladiator was a guilty criminal, a prisoner of war, or a slave bought to fight in the gladiatorial games by an owner. The professional gladiators were volunteered men from Rome...
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...Analyze, Critique, and Discuss The Gladiator HUM/150 It has been said that a gladiator is a warrior, one who was a slave or prisoner, who competed in different gladiator events. Gladiators would fight in rings and be pit up against animals, or other gladiators. These fight usually would consist of fighting to the death. The fate of the gladiators lives was often derived from the unanimous decision of the crowd. (The Roman Gladiator) Usually if a Gladiator was victorious and took the lives of many men, he would be awarded a wooden sword that would signify their freedom. How iconic was it for director Ridley Scott to direct a film by David Franzoni, to depict exactly what it was to be a gladiator. From the infamous fights that took place in the Roman Coluseum, to the melancholy dramatic feeling that overcame Maximus (Russell Crowe) as his family were killed through the treacherous actions of his rival Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Gladiator begins with the battle with Romanian Army under the leadership of Emperor Marcus Aurelius against the Barbarian Tribe of Germania. This scene showed many striking points. For instance take the scene and where it takes place. Both armies are dressed in the traditional Armor helmets with steal chest plates and large shields. The uniforms are made with immaculate detail. The swords the bows, axes, and all the other weapons look as real as the weapons that were used in real life. The ash and corps infested battlefield allowed...
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...Gladiator Julius Mitchell ENG 225 Prof. Jonathan Beller 13 March 2011 What would you do if you were engaged in a twelve year campaign; you have a wife and son who are waiting for you, but you are asked to be king and leader of your country? Would you refuse your king, and turn your back on your country, for the sake of two? Ridley Scott, director of Universal Pictures “Gladiator,” brought to life, writer David Franzoni’s epic tale of Maximus, an inspiring and powerful Roman General. After twelve years of fighting, Maximus longs for nothing more than the warm embrace of his family. Unfortunately, the king, Marcus Aurelius asked that he should be crowned king of Rome instead of his corrupt son Commodus. Maximus is caught in a power struggle, which leave him and his family condemned to death. This critical analysis of the motion picture “Gladiator,” will analyze the key elements of film, which embody the storytelling, acting, cinematography, editing, sound, style and directing, societal impact, genre, film criticism and analysis. The story of Maximus, once the most powerful, and respected, general, in Rome, reduced to a slave who fights for an opportunity to exact his vengeance for the brutal death of his family is written with three basic elements. It has character, desire, and conflict. The narrative structure of the film is organized in six stages. These stages are developed by the turning points in the plot. The stages are the initial setup, new...
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...Roman sports transformed the ritual nature of Greek sports into spectator entertainment. The sports the Romans participated in, boxing, chariot racing, ball games, gladiator battles, and pankration, were all male dominant boasting strength and athleticism. Wealthy Romans had large paying fields in the villas where they hosted the sporting events. The patronage of the empire for sports came apparent in the era of Emperor Nero, when the first gymnasium was built, and soon became one the symbols of Roman Strength. Emperor Nero was born in 37 A.D. and ruled Rome from 54 AD to 68 AD. He began his reign as a generous and reasonable leader but all changed after Agrippina’s murder. Emperor Nero descended into a hedonic lifestyle manifested by self-indulgences and tyranny. Even though Nero was not appreciated by all of Rome, there was good that came from his rule. It was during his reign that the state patronage of sports reached high numbers. He was the first to build a gymnasium in Rome. Due to this, large amphitheaters for various sports, in particular...
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...Maximus is someone who is a good, caring, vitreous person who is suffering injustice, and he wants to be able to teach others to become good. For example, Maximus was suffering injustice when he got captured by a slave trader, and he basically had to fight as a gladiator in the games/tournaments and kill others in order to serve, he taught people to die with "strength and honor." One of Maximus honorable moments in the film, was when he killed Commodus. He didn't kill Commodus because he was jealous of all the power he had but he did it for the people of Rome, for Marcus Aurelius, and he also did it for the slaves to be freed, which is why people honored Maximus so...
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...An Epic Masterpiece Gladiator is set about 2000 years ago in the Roman Empire. The director, Ridley Scott, gives the audience the feeling that they are actually in the city of Rome 2000 years ago watching the gladiators battle each other to death with many different beautiful types of scenery and sets, such as the battle scene in the very beginning of the film, which is a beautiful forest covered in snow with trees lined on the outside of the Roman base, and Caesar’s palace, which is very big with tall rooms and many different pillars and marble floors. The most notable set in the film is the famous Coliseum of Rome which stands about twenty stories high, holding about 20,000 people to watch the gladiators battle to the death, looked as if it were the actual coliseum being used by the gladiators. Scott gives the film a sense of realism by showing blood and gore as it might happen if they were actually fighting in a ring. The film’s main character, Maximus (Russell Crowe), is made a slave by the new ruler of Rome, Commodus, (Joaquin Phoenix), because his father, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), was murdered by Commodus in a jealous rage because Marcus decides to make Maximus his successor, which does not go over well with Commodus. Maximus is taken away to be executed, but escapes and sets out to find his wife and child dead and is captured by slave-traders to become a slave. He is bought by Proximo who makes him fight as a gladiator around different arenas to make money...
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...Saludos, en esta ocasión en el foro, hablaré sobre una expresión artística, en este caso, una película titulada el gladiador, es una película histórica basada en los gladiadores. Un gladiador era un combatiente armado que entretenía el público en la Antigua Roma en confrontaciones violentas y mortales contra otros gladiadores, contra animales o contra condenados a muerte. Aunque algunos gladiadores combatían por voluntad propia, la mayoría eran esclavos o condenados, que eran entrenados en condiciones muy duras y estaban socialmente marginados y segregados. ¿Qué expresión artística es? Película, El Gladiador. ¿Quién la realizó? Director: Ridley Scott - Actores principales: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou y David Schofield. - Productores: David H. Franzoni, Branko Lustig y Douglas Wick - Guión: David H. Franzoni - Fotografía: John Mathieson - Música: Hans Zimmer y Lisa Gerrard ¿Cuándo se realizó? La película se rodó en tres escenarios principales entre enero y mayo de 1999. Salió al cine en el 2000. ¿Qué tema trata? La película está ambientada en la Roma Imperial, iniciando en el final de la vida del Emperador Marco Aurelio, con su victoria sobre los marcomanos cerca de Vindobona (año 180 d.C.); y muestra a continuación cómo su hijo, Cómodo, se convierte en el nuevo emperador, Cómodo supone el fin del Alto Imperio y la dinastía Flavia, comenzando la...
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...Gladiator: The Movie Essay | Gladiator: The Movie Ridley Scott This student essay consists of approximately 3 pages of analysis of Gladiator. Print Word PDF This section contains 804 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) Gladiator: The Movie Summary: "What we do in life echoes in eternity." A famous tag line of the movie that Maximus (Russell Crowe) said to his men before they merge in the battlefield. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). A very highly intense action sequence directed by Ridley Scott. A film that won multiple awards including, best costume design, visual, pictures and sound effects. The "Gladiator." "What we do in life echoes in eternity." A famous tag line of the movie that Maximus (Russell Crowe) said to his men before they merge in the battlefield. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his inheritor over his own son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), and a power struggle leaves Maximus and his family condemned to death. The powerful general is unable to save his family, and his loss of will allows him to get captured and put into the savage games until he dies. The only desire that fuels him now is the chance to rise to the top so that he will be able to look into the eyes of the man who will feel his revenge. A very highly intense action...
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...A. Micciche University of Phoenix For my report I decided to write about Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, which is an action, adventure, drama. This film was released in 2000 with Russell Crowe who is a method style actor, as the lead actor, Starring as Maximus. Maximus was the favorite general of Caesar Marcus Aurelius played by Richard Harris. After defeating the German Barbarians, general Maximus only dreamed of returning home to his wife and son to live a simply life tending to his crops, and leave behind his life as a respected general. After defeating the German barbarians, and with his health failing Caesar decides to appoint Maximus as the protector of Rome and wishes to pass all of his powers as Caesar to Maximus, on the condition that Maximus restores Rome to its former glory, then returning all power to the senate. Commodus, who is played by Joaquin Phoenix who is also a method actor, is a spoiled self indulged aristocrat that believed Caesar would name him as his successor. Commodus kills Caesar and takes the title of Caesar and orders his soldiers to kill Maximus and his family. Maximus escapes, wounded, only to return home to find that Commodus’ soldiers beat him there and slain his wife and son. He awakes to find himself captured to be sold as a slave to Proximo, played by the late Oliver Reed. Promimo is a Gladiator manager, and trains his slaves to fight as gladiators in arena settings, so that he can profit from their blood. Upon returning to Rome, Commodus...
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...Movie Title: Gladiator Year Produced: 2000 Director: Ridley Scott Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama Cast Of Characters: Russell Crowe ....Maximus Joaquin Phoenix ….Commodus Connie Nielsen ….Lucille Oliver Reed ....Proximo Richard Harris .... Marcus Aurelius Derek Jacobi .... Gracchus Djimon Hounsou .... Juba David Schofield .... Falco John Shrapnel ….Gaius Tomas Arana .... Quintus Alf Moeller .... Hagen Spencer Treat Clark .... Lucius David Hemmings …. Cassius Tommy Flanagan .... Cicero Sven-Ole Thorsen .... Tigris Plot: Maximus (Russell Crowe) is a general in the roman army loved by Marcus Aurelius, the emperor. Marcus wants Maximus to become emperor after he dies, as he thinks that his son Commodus is unfit to rule. When he tells Commodus this, Commodus murders him. When Maximus refuses to believe that Marcus died of natural causes, Commodus orders that Maximus and his family should be executed. However, Maximus escapes and returns home. Too late to save his family, and paralyzed with anguish. He collapses and is sold as a slave where his prowess as a gladiator gets noticed and eventually he fights his way through Africa to Rome, where he meets the emperor face to face. The emperor spares his life, and then challenges Maximus to a fight in the arena. Maximus accepts and the two engage in a bloody battle. Maximus kills the emperor, reinstates the Senate as the governors of Rome and dies to be with his family in the afterlife. ...
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