Swords and Cinema

Hollywood vs the Reality of Ancient Warfare

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by Jeremiah McCall

Type: Studies
Subject: Genre > Historical films
Keywords: historical films, accuracy
Publishing date: 2025 (February 05, 2025)
1st publishing: 2015
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Language: English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 224 pages
6 ¼ x 9 ¼ inches (16 x 23.5 cm)

ISBN

978-1-3990-7842-9

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Book Presentation:
Examines the accuracy of Classical battle scenes in films, exploring weapons, tactics, and historical authenticity.

The battles and sieges of the Classical world have been a rich source of inspiration to film makers since the beginning of cinema and the 60s and 70s saw the golden age of the swords and sandals epic, with films such as Spartacus. Ridley Scotts Gladiator led a modern revival that has continued with the release of films like 300, The Eagle and Centurion and HBOs mini-series Rome.

While Hollywood interpretations of Classical battle continue to spark interest in ancient warfare, to casual viewers and serious enthusiasts alike they also spark a host of questions about authenticity. What does Hollywood get right and wrong about weapons, organization, tactics and the experience of combat? Did the Spartans really fight clad only in their underpants and did the Persians have mysterious, silver-masked assassins in their armies? This original book discusses the merits of battle scenes in selected movies and along the way gives the reader an interesting overview of ancient battle. It should appeal to the serious student of ancient warfare, movie buffs and everyone in between.

About the Author:
Dr Jeremiah McCall has a PhD in Classical History and specializes in the military history and political culture of the Roman Republic. He teaches high school history in Cincinnati, Ohio and is a pioneering advocate of the use of video games as a means for learning history. His previous works include The Cavalry of the Roman Republic (2002); The Sword of Rome: A Biography of Marcus Claudius Marcellus (Pen & Sword 2012) and Swords and Cinema: Hollywood vs the Reality of Ancient Warfare (Pen & Sword, 2014).

See the publisher website: Pen and Sword

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