This month, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 triumphantly returns audiences to the grandeur of Ancient Rome, rekindling the spectacle and drama that captivated viewers 25 years ago. The film picks up decades after the original, shifting focus to Lucius, the nephew of Commodus. With breathtaking visuals and intense action, the movie revisits the iconic Colosseum, now reimagined as a stage for epic naval battles, complete with flooded arenas and dazzling set pieces.
While the inclusion of sharks is likely a cinematic flourish, the scene is rooted in historical practices known as naumachiae, where Romans staged elaborate mock naval battles. Today we’ll dive headfirst into the history of these spectacles, the engineering marvels of the Colosseum, and how Hollywood magic may contrast with the realities of history.
Constructed under Emperor Vespasian and inaugurated in 80 CE by his son, Emperor Titus, the Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater) epitomized Roman architectural ingenuity and could host up to 50,000 spectators, showcasing everything from gladiatorial combat to theatrical reenactments. Today the Colosseum is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Was The Colosseum Really Flooded As Portrayed in Gladiator 2?
To answer that question we have to look back at evidence throughout antiquity. Naumachiae in the Colosseum were reportedly part of the opening ceremonies, which spanned 100 days of games and spectacles. These naval battles showcased the empire’s might and engineering prowess, leaving audiences in awe.
How Did The Romans Flood The Colosseum?
To facilitate these naval reenactments, the Romans employed an intricate system of aqueducts and channels. The Colosseum was connected to Rome’s extensive aqueduct network, allowing water to be channeled into the arena. Sluice gates controlled the flow, enabling rapid filling of the basin to a depth sufficient for maneuvering small ships. This setup transformed the arena into a temporary lake, accommodating the mock sea battles.
After the naumachiae concluded, the water was drained through a network of subterranean channels. These channels directed the water away from the arena, likely into the city’s sewage system or nearby bodies of water. The efficiency of this drainage system allowed the Colosseum to revert quickly to its primary function, hosting other events without prolonged downtime.
How Historically Accurate is Gladiator 2?
Historical accounts and archaeological findings do actually provide some evidence that these naval spectacles did occur.
- Roman historian Cassius Dio documented that Emperor Titus inaugurated the Colosseum in 80 CE with 100 days of games, including naval battles. He described the arena being flooded for these events, highlighting the grandeur of the spectacles. One of the battle replicated was between Syracuse and Athens. In fact he goes on in detail about an artificial island constructed in the middle of the arena where the sailors landing would fight.
- Remnants of the Colosseum’s infrastructure, such as channels and evidence of water-resistant materials, suggest the capability to flood and drain within 2 to 5 hours. These findings align with historical descriptions of the naumachiae.
- The Romans’ advanced engineering skills, demonstrated in their aqueducts and public baths, support the plausibility of such complex water management within the Colosseum. The ability to control large volumes of water was well within their technological capabilities.
While some scholars debate the frequency and scale of these events, the convergence of historical records and archaeological evidence affirms that the Romans did, on occasion, flood the Colosseum to stage naval battles and other grand public spectacles.
Key Differences Between Gladiator 2 And Real-Life
Unlike the deep waters of natural harbors, the Colosseum’s flooded arena was shallow. Flat-bottom boats, easy to maneuver and lightweight, were designed to resemble Roman warships. These vessels added authenticity to the spectacle, though they were far removed from the realities of actual naval warfare.
While Gladiator 2 dramatizes the event with violence and gore, historical naumachiae were rarely ever truly deadly. Participants included trained performers, prisoners, or slaves, often spared death to ensure the continuity of future performances. The emphasis lay on dramatic choreography and visual splendor rather than actual combat.
Could There Have Been Sharks In The Colosseum As Depicted In Gladiator 2?
The inclusion of sharks, much less the man-eating tiger sharks depicted in the Colosseum in Gladiator 2 is a significant departure from reality, both in terms of practicality and historical plausibility. Historical accounts make zero mention of large marine predators like sharks ever being involved. The logistics of capturing, transporting, and maintaining large oceanic creatures like sharks would have been well beyond the technological and ecological capabilities of ancient Rome. In addition, sharks require saline, oxygen-rich seawater to survive. Even if transporting and housing such creatures were possible for the Romans—a highly unlikely scenario—they would not have survived in the stagnant freshwater of the Colosseum’s temporary pool
Hollywood often blends fact with fiction for dramatic effect, and Gladiator 2 is no exception. Cinematic liberties on the silver screen underscore the balance filmmakers strike between authenticity and entertainment, particularly when trying to engage with today’s audiences. Does it make for a great sword and sandals flick? Absolutely. Could it have ever happened in real life? Probably not.
‘Weird History’ Separates Fact From Fiction
Want to take a deeper dive? One of our favorite YouTube channels “Weird History” made a great video on the subject of how historically accurate the movie Gladiator 2 really was.
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