The internet wouldn’t be the same without the Like button, the thumbs-up icon that Facebook and other online services turned ...

From 180 to 192 C.E., Emperor Commodus ruled ancient Rome with an insatiable lust for power that brought an end to the fabled ...

The wealthiest Romans were fascinated with violent combat. The emperor Commodus even joined in the gladiatorial contests, claiming he had fought as many as 1,000 times. By the early 20th century ...

1. In the initial script, the main character was Narcissus, the real-life man who strangled Commodus to death. While most of the film's characters are real ancient figures, Maximus was fictional.

like Commodus, who have been execrated through the ages. In several cases, the attributions have been changed or removed, so that a compelling portrait of a calm, steady woman of middle age is ...

Director Ridley Scott's Gladiator is the story of Roman general Maximus (Russell Crowe), who is sold into slavery by corrupt emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who also murders his family.

Maximus, reduced to slavery, becomes a gladiator, rising through the ranks to seek revenge on Commodus for the murder of his family and the usurpation of the throne. It went on to win five Academy ...

His death was cheered by many due to his autocratic style. And Emperor Commodus, once popular due to his eccentric antics and public games, was murdered by a champion wrestler in 192 CE.