Iliad And Troy Essay

692 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Filmmaking process

Films have always been used to bring out various cultural artifacts and traditions. Through film, it would be easier for one to point out the culture in which one or the main character belongs to. The Iliad and Troy remains to be amongst the most renowned literal and film pieces that have been read, viewed and appreciated throughout history. Just as is the film Troy, which is based on the epic, The Iliad, Gladiator is a 2000 British–American epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott. The Gladiator features the character of Crowe, a fictional character, who is very loyal to Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius. Crowe is betrayed when Commodus, a very ambitious son to the then the emperor Marcus Aurelius takes over power after killing his father. Characters in both the Troy and the Gladiator movies were essentially dressed-up in military like artifacts. From both the Troy and the Gladiator, one would discover that the sword was a basic dress for most of the characters. In the Gladiator, we find the main character, Crowe having his sword every other time he is filmed. The first time Crowe took up the swords was when the throne had to change hands after Commodus took over the throne in cold blood. This change of power and the clear cut disappointment by Crowe would never have been shown to take a military approach, were it not for the dressing. The marching of the Greeks in Troy is military regalia presented a battalion that had all soldiers carrying a sword. This was a clear cut reflection of the weaponry of the time in which AuthorLastName3 the Sword was the main tool for war. On the other hand, Maximus in the film Gladiator engages in a duel with Commodus, stabbing him with the sword. Another major similarity betwe... ... middle of paper ... ... battles. Generally, one would find that Men in both films are mostly in the blue, while women are in downed in white attires. The design of clothes for soldiers and fighters in both the gladiator and Troy was done with great similarities. Both the Gladiator and Troy had fighters dressed in short length attires, perhaps to make it easier for them to move freely across different terrains. Both were armed with metallic shield to help fend off from bruising attacks, much of which was being fought using sword. The costumes used in both the Troy and the Gladiator films had great similarities. Much of the scene takes place with exchanges between warring groups with many of the fighters dressed in military regalia. Silvery gold was the color of choice for the main attire covering the main body of the Gladiators and fighters in AuthorLastName5 the Troy.

Show More
Related

  • Why Did Machiavelli's Use Of Cavalry

    4021 Words  | 9 Pages

    Without the right ecosystem for horses, the ancient Greeks were forced to trade for horses, which were highly expensive. The ancient Greeks were then forced to come up with a way to counter the Persians’ use of cavalry, which they solved with the creation of the phalanx. A phalanx was a group of soldiers armed with 7- to 8-foot-long spears, short swords, and round shields that were able to interlock with other shields. The soldiers wore a helmet, breastplate, and usually greaves. A phalanx is made up of lines of men extending their spears towards the enemy's direction. If a soldier is killed, the soldier from behind is to take his place, and this continues until all of the soldiers are killed. Machiavelli wrote, “The injuries which the first rank suffered, depleted the last, and the first rank always remained complete; and thus the Phalanxes, because of their arrangement, were able rather to become depleted than broken, since the large (size of its) body made it more immobile.” Machiavelli greatly admired the phalanx and considered it to be a useful formation if used correctly. Eventually Phillip the II of Macedonia improved the phalanx by doubling the spear length and reducing the shield size, which greatly increased a phalanx’s mobility. The Greeks would line up their phalanxes, and when the Persian

    Read More

  • The Hero's Model Of Warfare In The Iliad

    1164 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the first portrayals of Ancient Greece warfare comes from Homers epic the Iliad. During the Homeric Age the center of political organization were the households. The conduct of war was based on the ability of the leader of the household to assemble his supporters. However the cost of buying armor and weaponry was expensive therefore only the few wealthy could afford it. This created an aristocratic elite with the mode of fighting being the heroic model, a one-on-one battle between elites. This changes with the social change in the eight-century, where the phalanx will take over the mode of warfare.

    Read More

  • Maximus' Quest For Freedom

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ridley Scott’s epic film, Gladiator, considered one of the greatest films in recent years, won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Scott’s film, tells the story of the fall and rise of the great Roman General, Maximus Decimus Meridius. The Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, tells Maximus that he wishes that he ( ) the emperor after his death, instead of his son, Commodus. Angry, Commodus, murders his own father, thus becoming the emperor, and sentences Maximus and his family to death. Maximus escapes, but the Emperor’s men murder his family and burn his home. Slave traders, capture Maximus, and sell him into slavery. Maximus must rise to the top once more, and enact his revenge on Commodus. Through a liberal humanistic critique, the film contains an inherent meaning, shows the enhancement of life and propagation of values, and reveals that human nature never changes.

    Read More

  • The Roman games

    1087 Words  | 3 Pages

    There were also strong sexual references to the gladiator. The word gladius, for sword, was used to mean penis, their helmets were also, occasionally, shaped in the form of a phallus. Even the dead, defeated gladiator, had something sexual about him.

    Read More

  • Roman Gladiators

    979 Words  | 2 Pages

    A gladiators life was far from easy. Most were slaves, prisoners of war, or hardened criminals, therefore they were not free men. Often times they were trained and forced to take part in the events, hoping for their freedom if they were to conquer their grim fate and survived for a few years (wik). This was depicted in the most recent movie GLADIATOR. In this film Russel Crowe ‘Maximus' starts out as an army general under Marcus Aurelius, until Commudus murders his own father out of spite for his fathers loyalty to Maximus and not him. He then inherits the title of king, and condemns Maximus to a gruesome fate as a slave/gladiator. Though this doesn't sound like the ideal life, to some at the time is was an appealing, so much so that some free men degraded themselves so they could battle in the games. Was it for basic living? Possibly but more than likely it was for the Fame and Prestige of a Gladiator. These free men were known as Professional gladiators.

    Read More

  • Gladiators Essay

    682 Words  | 2 Pages

    All gladiators were slaves, prisoners or war, or volunteers recruited to be trained at a gladiator school. The goal of gladiator schools was to produce strong, fighting specimens. The schools mimicked prisons with shackles and cells but they had the best medical care possible and food meant to build muscle and energy. Doctors checked the trainees for medical problems and for their physical suitability before they were sent to be trained. Initial training was overseen by doctores, who were former gladiators with knowledge of the weapons. In this portion of training, training was held in the ludus, which is the training area modeled after the arena. The gladiators were taught different techniques for fighting. A wooden pole, the palus, in the arena was used as a target to practice different moves with the sword. A shield and dummy were also a popular form of training. The dummy was suspended from a swinging pole and the goal of the gladiator was to avoid the rotating arms of the dummy. Gladiators used heavier weapons than they would typically use to build stamina and strength. A large part of the training process was to teach the gladiators how to die gracefully and with honor. They had to die bravely with no fear, which required them to offer themselves to murder. Through the training, gladiators gained respect and honor. There were several advantages to being a gladiator: shelter, meals, medical care, fame, and the opportunity to win money and goods. However, gladiators were at the bo...

    Read More

  • Sparta

    764 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Spartan military gained eternal military fame when 300 Spartan soldiers defeated an entire Persian army during the Peloponnesian War (Papakyriakou, 2013). Their unmatched army would become the pinnacle of dominance that would inspire later western culture. Sparta was the leader of all things military for any years, but they unfortunately could not keep up with Athens’ navy and the Persian’s sheer number of soldiers. The ideals that Sparta lived by are still evident in some parts of the military today. Not all men are required to fight of course, but the idea of obedience that stemmed from their training is still very evident. Sparta’s legacy is still relevant thousands of years later, and will remain evident as we continue to learn about military history.

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Gladiator

    1077 Words  | 3 Pages

    The story of Gladiator takes place in Ancient Rome and contains intense action, great acting, and fantastic storytelling. Although most of this action drama is mostly fictitious, some certain events and characters appear in the history books.

    Read More

  • The History Of Gladiators

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gladiator’s were men who became professional fighters specialising in fighting with weapons. Gladiator’s were known to fight in large purpose-built arenas for the public to view throughout the Roman Empire from 105 BCE to 404 CE (official contests).

    Read More

  • Unspoken Comparison in Tacitus's Germania

    2072 Words  | 5 Pages

    Tacitus claims that business was not tended to without being armed and for the younger men, a sword and shield would be bestowed upon them at a certain age which he describes as a seeming equivalent to the Roman toga of manhood.  To be surrounded by a large group of picked young armed men was a prestigious and honorable thing, or as Tacitus would put it, "an ornament in peace and defense in war".

    Read More

  • Iliad Movie Essay

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    Troy, the movie, is a very inaccurate depiction of the Homeric epic, The Iliad; especially, when it comes to the romantic relationship involving Helen, Pairs and Menelaus. Sure, the characters and the outcome of the war are the same, but the way in which the story is told happens to be dramatically different. The plot of the movie differentiates so much from the original poem that the film is ultimately a lackluster version of the Iliad. The movie makes so many changes to the twisted tale of love between

    Read More

  • The Roman Perspective of the Gladiator

    2890 Words  | 6 Pages

    Barton begins his detailed look at the Roman culture surrounding gladiators by portraying the gladiators themselves through the eyes of the scholars. He sets the view very low to begin. The Roman people seemed to really look down upon the gladiators, viewing them as the lowest of the low in the social ladd...

    Read More

  • Spartacus Film Analysis

    788 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to page 235 of “Ancient Rome: A New History” the origin of gladiatorial combat comes from funeral games. It was here that “military virtues of society were celebrated” and gladiatorial combat was introduced. Spartacus the movie aims the purpose of gladiatorial fighting towards audience entertainment and revenue generation when in fact, this was not the original purpose for these matches. This puts the glorious idea of a gladiator into context and allows the viewer to understand what their original purpose was. It turns a pointless fight into a meaningful entertainment source with a

    Read More

  • The Death Of The Film Gladiator

    840 Words  | 2 Pages

    Despite the movie Gladiator being accurate, the differences in history are visible. It demonstrates why people enjoyed watching others fight to the death and showed how that unified Rome during the reign of Commodus. “Ultimately, we are all dead men… We have to decide how to meet death in order to be remembered as men.” (Gladiator).

    Read More

  • The Battle of Marathon

    1052 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...rated the superiority of the Greek long spear and armor over the weapons of the Persians, as well as the superior tactics of Miltiades and the military training of the Greek hoplites. The choice of weapons, training of warriors, selection of battle site, and timing had all worked together to help the Athenians prove that size doesn’t always matter.

    Read More

More about Iliad And Troy Essay

Open Document