Our guest, scholar Gregory Aldrete is an expert in ancient Roman history. Remember the battle at the beginning of “Gladiator?” The chaotic melee combat and the fireballs? Well, that’s not really how Roman soldiers would’ve fought. Aldrete says real Roman soldiers were highly trained warriors who fought in tight formations, acting as one — which is still very cool. And that’s part of Aldrete’s point: the actual history is just as epic as the filmmaking. Gregory Aldrete is joining us to talk about real gladiator fighting, chariot races, daily Roman life and lot’s more.
Guest –
Gregory Aldrete | Professor Emeritus of History and Humanities at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. His book is “Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen: Myth Versus Reality” [Amazon|Bookshop].
Airdate: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.