The 2000 film Gladiator portrays Roman emperor Commodus as a power-hungry patricide. But while the real Commodus was an egotistical and flawed ruler, he was not the unhinged psychopath shown in the movie. He ruled successfully for over a decade and did not kill his father Marcus Aurelius, who likely died from natural causes. Though Commodus enjoyed fighting as a gladiator and indulged his megalomania, he avoided major political disasters until later in his reign. His story shows how power can go to leaders' heads in any era, ancient or modern. Even 1,800 years later, Commodus provides lessons on ego and spectacle in leadership resonating through the ages.

This podcast was generated with the help of artificial intelligence. Music credit: “Renaissance” by Audionautix