Blue Star Chronicles

The tomb of Marcus Nonius Macrinus has been found in Italy. He is the Roman general on which the movie Gladiator was based. See videos below.

Marcus Nonius Macrinus - Gladiator

Italy’s Culture Ministry announced today that the tomb of the great ancient Roman General Marcus Nonius Macrinus. Professor Daniela Rossi, an archaeologist with Italy’s Culture Ministry, has called this find one of the most important finds of ancient Roman monument to have been found in many years.

The character played by Russell Crowe in the movie Gladiator was based on the life of this general. Of course, the movie was not particularly historical accurate. They rarely are. The parts of the movie that were accurate, as far as is known, is that the lead character (who was named Maximus Decimus Meridius in the movie) was one of ancient Rome’s greatest generals. He lead the Roman legions valiantly to hold back the Germanic tribes, Quadi and the Marcommani, who were intent on invading Italy. His victories against these Germanic warriors is credited with postponing the fall of the Roman Empire for a generation or two.

Marinus was also a close friend and confidant of the Philosopher Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Although it can’t be known, it is also very likely that there was no love lost between Macrinus and Marcus Aurelius’ son and successor, Commodus. Aurelius’ son was more or less accurately portrayed in the movie as a spoiled child-like Emperor who squandered and dishonored his father’s legacy. He was the type of Emperor a Roman general would have held in contempt. However, Macrinus did not fight Commodus in the Arena and did not kill Commodus as was depicted in the movie.

When Marinus died, his son erected a huge, magnificent, columned tomb for him between the River Tiber and the Via Flaminia. His family were great land owners and rulers of the Fabia tribe in the area of the modern city of Brescia in Northern Italy. The remains of what is to believed to have been the villa in which Macrinus lived with his wife Arria was found two years ago on the shores of Lake Garda.

The tomb is inscribed with records of some of Macrinus’ greatest military victories. The archaeologists are working against the clock to excavate the site and hope the obtain information about the man who was one of the most important figures of his time. The site is owned by an Italian construction company who is sponsoring the dig and has promised funds for a museum. The construction in the area is what first unearthed the remains of the Gladiator tomb. Still, the site is on prime real estate and new houses are waiting to be built.

Hopefully, more can be found out about this man of legend. If they find a sarcophagus, we will have an idea of his physical appearance and as they unearth more of his tomb, perhaps we’ll find out more about the man and the times in which he lived.

Check out a couple of videos about the archaeological dig below the fold. Plus you can view the Discovery Channel video about the discovery.

Marcus Nonius Macrinus - Gladiator