When Gladiator first came out in May 2000, all my guy friends wanted to name their future first-borns Maximus. After convincing them that it was no longer 180 AD, and that it probably wasn’t a good idea, they agreed that perhaps the name Maximus wouldn’t have the same effect today as it did then. They still made me admit it was the coolest name I’d ever heard. It kind of was. After months of listening to them obsess about it, I sat down to watch the film and see for myself what all the fuss was about.
Well, it is EPIC. It’s truly a masterpiece. From the acting, to the directing, to the actual story, Gladiator was an instant classic the likes of Spartacus. I have no doubt this film will stand the test of time, and will be watched for generations to come.
A beloved film, even thirteen years later (has it been that long?) people’s eyes light up whenever it’s brought up in film discussions. A huge reason for this is that the costumes and weapons were so historically accurate. You really felt like you were in Roman times, you believed in Maximus’ struggle, and you wanted to own weapons like his.
You still can. Heavenly Swords has a selection of Greco-Roman items even Maximus would covet. Here’s a few to get you started:
This crazy gorgeous replica is made of polished 440 stainless steel blade and pommel. Look at that detail! This was the sword of choice for gladiators who battled in the Coliseum. A beautiful show piece, mount it on your fireplace today!
This is another sword preferred by gladiators in battle. It is 39” long, with a 30” stainless steel blade, and it comes with an attractive and functional leather scabbard. A must-have for collectors who love the Roman period, historically accurate representations, or are just into well made sword replicas.
Rectangular shields like this one were mainly used by the infantry. Its curved shape helped absorb strong blows. This particular shield is made of polished steel, with gold wings spread on a field of red. It is 20” wide and 36” long. It’s big. This massive shield is not only functional, but it’s perfect to complete your medieval décor. Roman swords over the fireplace, this shield on the wall. All you need is some dark wood furniture and you got yourself an impressive room.
Time travel is not possible (yet, as far as we know). But you can feel transported to different time with these items. Thanks to these replicas we can recreate a time period full of strife, but also progress. The film Gladiator is heart-breaking, but also triumphant in many ways, just like life. Maximus was faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, and he simply tried to do the best he could. Maybe that’s why we love the movie, because we see a little bit of ourselves in its main character.
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