The Real Commodus Was Even Crazier Than His 'Gladiator' Character
By Doris MorrisJanuary 15, 20220 mins read96090 Views
You likely know the name Commodus as the bad guy from Gladiator, the Best Picture winner from 2000. Played as a pervy psychotic by Joaquin Phoenix, Emperor Commodus is portrayed as a man with insecurities motivating his actions. And while that may be an accurate, historical understanding of the emperor's persona, there's a lot more to Commodus’ biography than the made-up bits starring Russell Crowe. But, who was Commodus?