Tomb of “Gladiator” General Uncovered in Italy

Were you aware that the Roman general turned gladiator portrayed by Russell Crowe for the film “Gladiator” was loosely based on the life of a real person? According to a group of Italian archeologists it was. The archeologists have uncovered the tomb of the very same ancient Roman hero says Daniela Rossi, a Rome scientist.

The tomb, discovered on the banks of the Tiber River just north of Rome in the town of Flaminia, belongs to Marcus Nonius Macrinus and is being described by Rossi as “an exceptional find…..the most important ancient Roman monument to come to light for twenty or thirty years”.

Marcus Nonius Macrinus was born to noble blood in northern Italy. He was a popular general and consul to Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE). And, as the movie portrayed, he was one of the Caeser’s favorites, held in high esteem by the Emperor and thought by many in that day to be Arelius’ real choice to succeed him to the throne of the Roman Empire.

However, unlike the film, in real-life, the son of Aurelius, an overly ambitious man named Commodus, did not murder his father in a fit of jealous rage, nor was General Marcrinus exiled by the Emperor Commodus causing him to become a gladiator. This was the point in the film where director Ridley Scott took liberties with actual historical accounts. In fact, Commodus was greatly loved by his father and he shared the throne with Aurelius for several years until the day he became sole Emperor upon his father’s death. Some historians believe Arurelius chose Commodus to succeed him in order to prevent a civil war within the Empire.

According to an article in The Times, there could be plans to reconstruct the tomb of General Marcus Nonius Macrinus and turn it into one of the centrepieces of a ‘Via Flaminia Archeological Park’, which would also include the House of Empress Livia, the infamaous wife of Emperor Augustus.