An early script for the film Gladiator included the gladiators endorsing products in the arena. While historically accurate, it was removed for being unbelievable to audiences.
gladiators
Gladiators in Ancient Rome used to carry…
Gladiators in Ancient Rome used to carry product placements out in the arena; This was present in an early script for Gladiator (2000), but was removed out of fears that it would be viewed as anachronistic.
An Australian company wants to resurrect gladiator…
An Australian company wants to resurrect gladiator duels with carbon-fiber suits.
Gladiators were probably fat due to a high-energy vegetarian diet…
Gladiators were probably fat due to a high-energy vegetarian diet, which included calcium-rich ash. This fatty layer helped protect them from otherwise-lethal wounds.
Gladiator games had referees who could stop fights…
Gladiator games had referees who could stop fights entirely or let fighters rest and freshen up.
Like today’s athletes, gladiators did product endorsements…
Like today’s athletes, gladiators did product endorsements. Particularly successful gladiators (such as Maximus) would endorse goods in the arena before commencing a fight and have their names promoting products on the Roman equivalent of billboards. This fact was planned to be included in the movie Gladiator, but was scrapped because it wasn’t a fact that audiences might believe to be true.