Now that I have finished watching all the episodes of this TV series, I can assess its historical accuracy: overall, I would rate it a 3 out of 10. Indeed, there are numerous and serious historical inaccuracies; let's analyze the main ones.
GLADIATOR FIGHTS
Firstly, it should be noted that no one, not even slaves, had to pay to attend the games or shows in general (as depicted in the TV series). The social hierarchy was respected by the allocation of seats (political figures sat in the front row; wealthy citizens behind them; further back the poorer citizens, and in the last row, the slaves).
A gladiator could be a slave, a prisoner of war, or even a Roman citizen in economic difficulties seeking social-economic redemption. Each gladiator was a significant investment for their owner (they had to provide food, lodging, and training). For this reason, during gladiatorial fights, it was more common for both combatants to leave the arena alive. Fights to the death were exceptional occurrences. (In the TV series, it seems that both surviving is the exception).
It is also worth noting that every fight had a referee who could stop the match if any situations compromised a fair fight (e.g., equipment malfunctions or defects not caused by the fight). There could not be scenarios where, as shown in the series, two gladiators were chained or blackmailed like simple slaves. Furthermore, the series does not feature any referee figures.
A gladiator could not kill his opponent without the authorization of the Emperor or the games' organizer. (In the series, at least in one fight, the gladiator Flamma kills his opponent without receiving any indication from anyone).
The gestures indicating the death or pardon of a gladiator did not involve the classic thumbs up or thumbs down. Most likely, the gesture for "life" involved showing the thumb and then putting it into a fist (as if sheathing a sword); the gesture for death probably involved showing the thumb simulating a sword slash. (In the series, the stereotypical thumbs down gesture is shown).
The same fame that today's Serie A footballers have was attributed to the strongest gladiators back then.
THE WORLD OF CHARIOT RACES
Unlike what happens in the TV series (especially in the first half), it seems that during these races, there were practically no crashes or "dirty tricks." In reality, there were no rules during the race, and the charioteers did everything to win and to stay alive: cutting off, ramming, and whipping both the horses and the other charioteers were common and perfectly legal actions.
Contrary to what is suggested in the TV series, betting on races and any other gambling was absolutely forbidden! The bets we see in the TV series are therefore all clandestine and illegal. (For more on gambling in Rome, see the post "Gambling in Ancient Rome"). The large business generated by betting and gambling, in general, was such a big phenomenon that Rome's magistrates tended to turn a blind eye to these activities, which, however, were never conducted openly.
It is almost unnecessary to say that, unlike what is shown in the series, charioteers did not have lockers with their names inside the baths or their "box."
VARIOUS ASPECTS
In the TV series, we see (or rather, infer) that Emperor Titus is killed by a group of men under the command of Domitian and Tenax. In reality, Titus probably died of malaria in one of his country villas, two years after coming to power. Some believe he might have been poisoned by his doctor, in that same estate.
The show depicts Vesuvius as a mountain from which a pyroclastic flow erupts. In reality, before that tremendous eruption, Vesuvius as a mountain did not exist; the area appeared flat to the Pompeians of that time.
Contrary to what is shown in the series, the Vestals did not have the power to free a slave; they could request a pardon for a condemned person.
In one of the final episodes, we see the Colosseum filled with water. This fact is historically documented, but the show presented to the spectators was a scaled-down representation of an ancient naval battle between Rome and one of its historical enemies. The crews of Rome's enemy fleet were made up of condemned criminals, while Rome's fleet consisted of capable sailors from the Roman army. For more info on naval battle shows, see the post "The Naval Battle Shows."
Bibliography:
- Silvano Mattesini - Gladiatori - Archeos editore
- Konstantin Nossov - Gladiatori, sangue e spettacolo nell'antica Roma - Libreria Editrice Goriziana
- J.H. Humphrey - Roman Circuses
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