Did Romans Really Fight Rhinos as is Portrayed in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II?

The Forgotten Timeline

The episode examines the historical accuracy of the upcoming film, Gladiator II, by analyzing several aspects of the movie's portrayal of Roman gladiatorial combat. It investigates the validity of including a rhinoceros fight, a sea battle in the Colosseum, and the infamous thumbs-down signal that supposedly signified death for a defeated gladiator. The author draws upon historical evidence and scholarly debate to demonstrate that while certain elements of the film, like staged sea battles, are rooted in historical reality, others, like the rhino combat and the thumbs-down gesture, are likely fictionalized or misinterpreted by modern audiences.