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Did Gladiator 2’s Water Battles Actually Happen In Real Life?

“Gladiator” and its sequel obviously aren’t meant to be 100% historical documents. It’s understandable if some creative liberties are taken, but sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction. That holds true when researching the history of naumachia or looking at how gladiator battles did, in fact, involve rhinos and sharks occasionally. According to The Telegraph, the first naumachia recorded was in 46 B.C. from Julius Caesar, who staged a naval reenactment of his quelling of rebellions in Egypt, Pontus, and elsewhere. The bloodshed was excessive, as slaves and prisoners were brought on to risk their lives at the expense of the masses’ entertainment.

Naturally, these events weren’t cheap, so they weren’t held too frequently. And the custom tapered off after one example where an arena was flooded for all of the combatants to do battle. However, things became all the more treacherous when heavy rains killed all the participants. On top of that, many spectators died from the storm or from getting sick in the aftermath. Regular gladiator battles continued, and the addition of underground tunnels beneath the Colosseum prevented any future flooding from taking place. 

The timeline for flooding the Colosseum as shown in the trailer is a bit off. “Gladiator 2” takes place roughly around the year 211 A.D., but naumachia was no longer happening at the Colosseum at that time. Still, an epic naval battle is such an awesome idea, it’s easy to see why the creatives behind “Gladiator 2” wanted to incorporate it, and it’s bound to be a highlight of the film when audiences can finally see it on November 22. 

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