A Historian Goes to the Movies: Ancient Rome
Season 1
From Ben-Hur to Spartacus to Gladiator, get a front-row look at the great movies that have shaped ancient Rome’s role in popular culture and memory. These 12 episodes cover over 50 years of cinematic history and talent, and immerse you in the glory and grandeur (and even the folly) of classic and contemporary films set in Roman antiquity.
Where to Watch Season 1
1 Episode
- Quo Vadis Kick-Starts the Sword-and-Sandal Genre
E1Quo Vadis Kick-Starts the Sword-and-Sandal GenreFew films did as much to shape the modern movie-going public’s notions of ancient Rome as Quo Vadis. Discover how this film, released in 1951 by MGM Studios, ushered in the golden age of the so-called “sword-and-sandal” picture, with its irresistible formula of evil, arrogant Romans versus virtuous, devout Christians.