Corrected entry: Historically speaking, the real Commodus fought in the arena. Unbeknownst to him, the soldiers preparing the gladiator to fight, would stab the opponent in the back, to weaken him in the same way that Commodus does to Maximus in this film.
wizard_of_gore
16th Nov 2017
Correction: There is no historical evidence of this. It is true that soldiers who were already wounded and citizens who were amputees or otherwise disabled would be placed in the arena for Commodus to slay. Roman citizens who might be missing a foot or hand would be put in the arena, where they were tethered together for Commodus to club to death while pretending they were giants. (Citation: Dio Cassius).
wizard_of_gore ★