Historian uncovers historical errors in 'Gladiator 2′ and rips the movie: 'Total Hollywood bullshit'

‘Gladiator 2′ is undoubtedly the most anticipated movie of the year. It will be released in cinemas around the world on November 15th, and the anticipation is at its peak as it is the sequel to one of the best movies in history. There are only a few days left to see it and judge it carefully, although there are those who have already done so, focusing on one of the issues that always come to the fore when a movie bets on a theme like this, and although Ridley Scott says he has only made a historical mistake, a historian says that more have been committed.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a University of Chicago historian named Shadi Bartsch has been highly critical of ‘Gladiator 2′, going so far as to call it “Total Hollywood bullshit” for two historical errors, one of which appears to be serious. Specifically, these errors refer to the rhinoceros race and the newspaper shown in the trailers.

Bartsch is also a writer and has even published several books on ancient Rome, so she couldn’t help but put her hands over her head when she saw a scene of a person reading a newspaper in a cafe: Gladiator 2′ is set 1,200 years before the invention of the printing press. ”They did have daily news - Acta Diuma - but it was carved and placed at certain locations. You had to go to it, you couldn’t hold it at a cafe. Also, they didn’t have cafes!”

Bartsch’s other criticism of the film focuses on the rhinoceroses that appear in the trailer, which are of a different breed than the ones in the Roman Coliseum. That, and, as she explains, there is no evidence that the gladiators rode on the backs of rhinoceroses. These are the two known errors at the moment, will there be more? On November 15, all the cards will be on the table.

Where to watch ‘Gladiator’?

If you haven’t seen the first one yet, or just want a refresher before ‘Gladiator 2′ comes out, remember that the movie is available on Paramount+.