Paul Mescal standing in the Colosseum in Gladiator II
In the trailer for Gladiator II, there is a hint that female fighters may be entering the Colosseum, leading many to wonder if female gladiators actually existed in Ancient Rome. Gladiator II is the long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott's 2000 box office hit, Gladiator. The movie stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, a young man who is forced to enter the Colosseum as a gladiator after Rome invades his home.
Women Gladiators Did Fight In The Colosseum In Real Life Women Fought As Gladiators Close ✕ Remove Ads As it turns out, the inclusion of female fighters in Gladiator II is not just a piece of movie magic. Female gladiators were a real part of Ancient Roman history. According to The History Channel, women of all different classes would train to fight as gladiators. Though they usually did not fight other men, they would enter the Colosseum to fight other women or animals.
Female Gladiators Were Banned From Rome In 200 AD The Surprising Reason Why Female Gladiators Were Banned ✕ Remove Ads Ultimately, female gladiators did not last, just as gladiators in general eventually petered out. In 200 AD, the Roman emperor, Septimius Severus, decreed that all females were banned from fighting as gladiators. His reasoning was actually quite interesting.
✕ Remove Ads It is exciting that Gladiator II is giving audiences a glimpse at female gladiators. Although the Gladiator franchise is beloved by many viewers, it arguably lacks a strong female perspective. This can make it difficult for female audiences to get invested in the story. However, if Gladiator II includes more fierce women characters, it could make the franchise even more riveting. Only time will tell how Gladiator II incorporates its female archers.
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