MovieChat Forums > Pompeii (2014) Discussion > Pompeiians Were Romans

Pompeiians Were Romans

posted 11 years ago by essex9999
90 replies | jump to latest

What is this nonsense in the movie where the people of Pompeii resent the "Romans" as conquerors? What is this crap where Cassia describes herself as a "citizen of Pompeii"? She was a Roman. Pompeian citizens were Roman citizens.

I'm sure there was plenty of province-vs-capital tension and suspicion, but the idea that people in Pompeii thought of themselves as a separate nationality or group from Romans is ridiculous. It's not just a typical Hollywood, minor historical inaccuracy; it's a lie, 180% opposite of the truth.

Apparently, Anderson was so determined to make Romans bad guys that he couldn't bring himself to have the heroine and her family be Roman. In fact, the Romans were no morally worse than any other large nationality ("nationality" being an anachronistic word for the period, but I can't think of a better one ATM) at the time. They are also our direct cultural ancestors. The world was and is better off because of the Roman Empire, and, without it, modern Western civilization - and therefore us - would not exist.

I get that filmmakers love to identify with underdogs and prefer to make movies where history's winners are portrayed as evil and cruel (as indeed the Romans often were - just not any more evil and cruel than the people they defeated). I also get that, when making a movie about events that happened 2000 years ago, absolute accuracy is not expected. On the other hand, reversing major historical facts in order to make your Titanic-wannabe storyline work and to fit your "oppression"-obsessed worldview is cheating.

Besides, it's a crap film.

[–] garybeta 11 years ago

Pompeii was a Roman resort Town that was so popular that Rome threw money at it. But we know it's citizens resented Rome because of the acres of ancient Graffiti all over the city and in caves and various Rocks everywhere. Any place where they could write something so that the public would see it, they wrote.

Poor, poor Pompeii.

I do hope that some of the slaves did escape Vesuvius.

C

[–] luckybee333 11 years ago

We hate you nocal rednecks as well so don't worry about it.

[–] eusebiu_m 11 years ago

Researchers believe that the town was founded in the seventh or sixth century BC by the Osci or Oscans and was captured by the Romans in 80 BC. By the time of its destruction, 160 years later, its population was probably approximately 20,000, and the city had a complex water system, an amphitheater, gymnasium and a port.

"It's not important what you know, important is what you understand from what you know...However, the most important how you use what you understand."

[–] johnmartindj 11 years ago

You must be kidding. Right now there is a militia group of right wing gun nuts in Nevada who deny the authority of the United States. Then there is Ukraine, which belonged to Russia, then Not, now they are trying again. You can't possibly think it is rare for people not to consider themselves citizens of the conquering state.

[–] jscanjscan 11 years ago

You obviously don't know Italian history! Italy as we know it was unified only in the mid 1800s - and before that the city states were separate and independent, with constant power tussles. So yes, the film was correct, in that the Roman empire, like a bulwark, was plying for power in every state, though many of them resisted and resented this. So before you criticise - do your homework!

[–] gravelandx88 11 years ago

And now there Italians

[–] king_of_bob 11 years ago

That is incorrect. The USSR was a collection of separate countries that formed a United Soviet(Soviet =\= Russian) Socialist Republic. People from the Ukraine are still Ukrainian.

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!

[–] 11 years ago

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