Pollice Verso (*Latin*: with a turned thumb) is a famous 1872 painting by French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme, featuring the eponymous Roman gesture directed to the winning gladiator.
The thumbs-down gesture in the painting is given by spectators at the Colosseum, including the Vestal virgins, to the victorious *murmillo*, while the defeated *retiarius* raises two fingers to plead for mercy.
Gérôme’s depiction of the Colosseum’s architecture is quite accurate, and the armor of the gladiators follows the design of those found in Pompeii.
Presumably the painting was an inspiration for the 2000 film Gladiator.
My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son. Husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.
/r/coliusm is a harsh mistress.
the man about to be slin must have expressed a theistic opinion, thus earning the rage of reddit.
Damn, the Vestal Virgins are svage.
Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant!
‘Upvote if you want him to live. All down votes huh?:
7 comments
Pollice Verso (*Latin*: with a turned thumb) is a famous 1872 painting by French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme, featuring the eponymous Roman gesture directed to the winning gladiator.
The thumbs-down gesture in the painting is given by spectators at the Colosseum, including the Vestal virgins, to the victorious *murmillo*, while the defeated *retiarius* raises two fingers to plead for mercy.
Gérôme’s depiction of the Colosseum’s architecture is quite accurate, and the armor of the gladiators follows the design of those found in Pompeii.
Presumably the painting was an inspiration for the 2000 film Gladiator.
My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son. Husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.
/r/coliusm is a harsh mistress.
the man about to be slin must have expressed a theistic opinion, thus earning the rage of reddit.
Damn, the Vestal Virgins are svage.
Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant!
‘Upvote if you want him to live. All down votes huh?: