Throughout history, people inevitably ask why various ruling classes eventually go crazy. I always thought the answer was “inbreeding.” Meaning, for centuries, ruling houses, royalty and aristocratic societies were always marrying and having children with their siblings, cousins or various other relatives. The whole idea of “opening up the gene pool” is actually a relatively modern concept. Well, Ridley Scott was asked why the half-fictional Roman emperors in his Gladiator movies are always bonkers. He went in a different direction – it’s not the inbreeding, it’s the lead!!
In Gladiator II, opening this week, twin sibling Emperors Geta and Caracalla, played by Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn, come across rather unstable — to say the least. And in 2000’s Gladiator, Joaquin Phoenix’s tyrannical Emperor Commodus was also a bit loopy (in addition to being “terribly vexed”). According to director Ridley Scott, there is a very specific historical reason for this.
“People forget that all the wealthy, high-end senatorial Roman aristocracy would live on water, which was piped through lead pipes and lead tanks,” Scott told The Hollywood Reporter. “People don’t think about that. Your choice is water or wine. When you drink water, it’s through a lead system that by then could be 200 years old by then. No wonder they’re f–king crazy. They’re all going halfway to Alzheimer’s.”
Indeed, according to Science magazine, “High-born Romans sipped beverages cooked in lead vessels and channeled spring water into their homes through lead pipes.” In addition to causing physical problems, lead poisoning can cause behavioral issues such as depression, irritability, altered moods and difficulty concentrating or remembering. Modern-day testing of Roman pipes have shown that Ancient Rome water had 100 times higher lead levels than normal. But scientists have also concluded this wasn’t high enough to — as some historians have speculated over the years — bring down the Roman Empire. Still, regular doses of lead mixed with massive amounts wealth and power could arguably inspire some regal volatility.
It’s true, it would not occur to most people that the Roman Empire was being ruled by people who were all being slowly poisoned by lead. I absolutely believe that was a factor now. Plus the inbreeding, obviously. There are other weird scientific reasons for various questions like “why were people in such-and-such era acting that way?” Like Victorians and arsenic. The Romanovs and… inbreeding.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- Ridley Scott bei der Premiere des Kinofilms Alien: Romulus im TCL Chinese Theatre. Los Angeles, 12.08.2024 *** Ridley Scott at the premiere of the movie Alien Romulus at the TCL Chinese Theatre Los Angeles, 12 08 2024 Foto:xJ.xBlocx/xFuturexImagex romulus_4845,Image: 898556183, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Jennifer Bloc/Avalon/Avalon
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- Paul Mescal and Sir Ridley Scott attend The Royal Film Performance™ and Global Premiere of GLADIATOR II taking place on Wednesday 13th November at ODEON LUXE, LEICESTER SQUARE.,Image: 935213906, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: JIMMY JAMES/Avalon/Avalon
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- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – NOVEMBER 18: Giannina Facio Scott and husband Ridley Scott arrive at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Paramount Pictures’ ‘Gladiator II’ held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 936317985, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Giannina Facio Scott, Ridley Scott, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
