Much of HBO's "Rome" is quite inaccurate. Aside from the leaving out of many strategic movements (specifically during the civil war), a battle in which Caesar was badly defeated, only to come back around at Pharsalus, sadly, this is the best Ancient Roman movie/mini-series out so far. Both versions of "Spartacus" are laughably inaccurate, the many dud TV "Julius Caesar" shows are long forgotten in public memory, and "Gladiator" may have been action-packed and good to look at, but was in the end just a Hollywood action flick.
"Rome" is perhaps the most accurate looking, realistic feeling depiction of the end of the Republic Rome and of Pompeius and Caesar. Being a history expert myself, I can't help but concentrate on the historical inaccuracies, but was well pleased with the accuracies they've taken.
Accuracies: - The (only) battle scene in the beginning follows suit with Roman battle style of staying in formation rather than wandering around like barbarians as in "Gladiator" - The streets of Rome look properly filthy and crowded, but with a definite "Roman" feel to them - The use of Caesar's proper name "Gaius", and his full name "Gaius Julius Caesar" rather than dwelling upon the "Julius Caesar" which has so plagued modern depictions of him (the equivalent of calling a modern-day 3 named person by their last two names only: Earl Jones, Love Hewitt, Dallas Howard, Day Lewis, etc) - The accurate depiction of Caesar not as benevolent, but rather cool and calculating--always thinking of his own benefit and the people first - The proper unfolding of the assassination scene (as in leaving out the cliché "et tu, Brute?" line, and such) - The portrayal of Antonius as a vicious brute
Inaccuracies: - Significant lack of key players in the Optimates (the good men opposing Caesar) such as Bibulus, Titus Labienus, Lentulus Crus and Lentulus Spinther, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, etc - Portrayal of Cato as an old man (he was only in his 40s at the time) - The "dumbing down" of the conflict between Caesar and the Optimates (giving the audience the idea that they warred because Pompeius was jealous of Caesar gaining the love of the people. In actuality, it ran far deeper and far terribly more complex than that--but not too complex for dramatic depiction) - Confusion of Servilia and her relationship with Caesar and Atia, confusion of Brutus's relationship with Caesar (he was never his close friend---he in fact hated him at some times) - The depiction of Cleopatra as some sort of opium junky - Confusion of Marcus Tullius Cicero's role in the Optimates and Caesar - Legion confusion (Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus were never in the Thirteenth Legion after the Gallic Wars ended, and the Thirteenth was never Caesar's favorite---that distinction went to the Tenth) - Octavian's true name is Gaius Octavius---Octavian is not a real Roman name, perhaps bearing resemblance to "Octavianus", which is the name Octavius much later adopted as part of his adopted name "Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus" and later Augustus - Octavius was much younger during this period of time than depicted---he was 18 when Caesar died, only 13 during the endpoint of the Gallic wars - Lack of mention of Marcus Crassus (Caesar's friend, who died only a year before the show starts), and complete lack of mention of Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla (save for a barely caught mention of "the last dictator"), both of whom had a tremendous impact on Roman society at the time---indeed, they feared Caesar's dictatorship specifically because they feared he might proscribe, as Sulla did - Leaves out Caesars march on the Spains before following Pompeius to Greece - Pompeius left Greece with some of his comrades, the Lentuli Crus and Spinther, etc - Pompeius had an adult son with him during the Civil war, and even at Pharsalus - At no point after Julia's death did Caesar attempt to have Pompeius re-marry into his family - Atia had a husband during this time--Lucius Marcius Philippus - The treasury was never emptied at any time---this was of catastrophic cost to Pompeius, as Lentulus Crus forgot to empty the treasury as they all fled Rome, thus leaving its wealth to Caesar's use, while Pompeius was forced to squeeze his provinces in the East and sell much of his wealth in Italy to fund the war - Caesar's eagle(s) were never stolen - Absolutely no mention whatsoever of Caesar's mother Aurelia, who died a month or so after Julia's death - Cato left for Africa before Pharsalus - The final battle with Vercingetorix was not a traditional battle as depicted in the first episode, but a massive siege assault on Alesia, in which Caesar was nearly defeated were it not for his luck, his men's hardiness, and the enemy's collective confusion and disconnection - Metellus Scipio was not with Pompeius as he fled to Greece---he was in Syria, and pulled up the two legions stationed there to meet Pompeius, reaching them before Pharsalus - After Pompeius's death, the civil war did not die down--there was still resistance to be put down in Africa, mostly, as well as other Eastern regions - Vercingetorix would never have allowed Romans to touch him when he surrendered to Caesar - Vercingetorix and Caesar had actually had a history together before Alesia, and had known each other by name. Thus, the introduction of Vercingetorix to Caesar was unnecessary - Marcus Cicero's brother Quintus was strongly for Caesar, thus the two would have quarreled fiercely, along with Cicero's son and wife on his side, and Quintus's son and wife on his
"Rome" is perhaps the most accurate looking, realistic feeling depiction of the end of the Republic Rome and of Pompeius and Caesar. Being a history expert myself, I can't help but concentrate on the historical inaccuracies, but was well pleased with the accuracies they've taken.
Accuracies: - The (only) battle scene in the beginning follows suit with Roman battle style of staying in formation rather than wandering around like barbarians as in "Gladiator" - The streets of Rome look properly filthy and crowded, but with a definite "Roman" feel to them - The use of Caesar's proper name "Gaius", and his full name "Gaius Julius Caesar" rather than dwelling upon the "Julius Caesar" which has so plagued modern depictions of him (the equivalent of calling a modern-day 3 named person by their last two names only: Earl Jones, Love Hewitt, Dallas Howard, Day Lewis, etc) - The accurate depiction of Caesar not as benevolent, but rather cool and calculating--always thinking of his own benefit and the people first - The proper unfolding of the assassination scene (as in leaving out the cliché "et tu, Brute?" line, and such) - The portrayal of Antonius as a vicious brute
Inaccuracies: - Significant lack of key players in the Optimates (the good men opposing Caesar) such as Bibulus, Titus Labienus, Lentulus Crus and Lentulus Spinther, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, etc - Portrayal of Cato as an old man (he was only in his 40s at the time) - The "dumbing down" of the conflict between Caesar and the Optimates (giving the audience the idea that they warred because Pompeius was jealous of Caesar gaining the love of the people. In actuality, it ran far deeper and far terribly more complex than that--but not too complex for dramatic depiction) - Confusion of Servilia and her relationship with Caesar and Atia, confusion of Brutus's relationship with Caesar (he was never his close friend---he in fact hated him at some times) - The depiction of Cleopatra as some sort of opium junky - Confusion of Marcus Tullius Cicero's role in the Optimates and Caesar - Legion confusion (Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus were never in the Thirteenth Legion after the Gallic Wars ended, and the Thirteenth was never Caesar's favorite---that distinction went to the Tenth) - Octavian's true name is Gaius Octavius---Octavian is not a real Roman name, perhaps bearing resemblance to "Octavianus", which is the name Octavius much later adopted as part of his adopted name "Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus" and later Augustus - Octavius was much younger during this period of time than depicted---he was 18 when Caesar died, only 13 during the endpoint of the Gallic wars - Lack of mention of Marcus Crassus (Caesar's friend, who died only a year before the show starts), and complete lack of mention of Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla (save for a barely caught mention of "the last dictator"), both of whom had a tremendous impact on Roman society at the time---indeed, they feared Caesar's dictatorship specifically because they feared he might proscribe, as Sulla did - Leaves out Caesars march on the Spains before following Pompeius to Greece - Pompeius left Greece with some of his comrades, the Lentuli Crus and Spinther, etc - Pompeius had an adult son with him during the Civil war, and even at Pharsalus - At no point after Julia's death did Caesar attempt to have Pompeius re-marry into his family - Atia had a husband during this time--Lucius Marcius Philippus - The treasury was never emptied at any time---this was of catastrophic cost to Pompeius, as Lentulus Crus forgot to empty the treasury as they all fled Rome, thus leaving its wealth to Caesar's use, while Pompeius was forced to squeeze his provinces in the East and sell much of his wealth in Italy to fund the war - Caesar's eagle(s) were never stolen - Absolutely no mention whatsoever of Caesar's mother Aurelia, who died a month or so after Julia's death - Cato left for Africa before Pharsalus - The final battle with Vercingetorix was not a traditional battle as depicted in the first episode, but a massive siege assault on Alesia, in which Caesar was nearly defeated were it not for his luck, his men's hardiness, and the enemy's collective confusion and disconnection - Metellus Scipio was not with Pompeius as he fled to Greece---he was in Syria, and pulled up the two legions stationed there to meet Pompeius, reaching them before Pharsalus - After Pompeius's death, the civil war did not die down--there was still resistance to be put down in Africa, mostly, as well as other Eastern regions - Vercingetorix would never have allowed Romans to touch him when he surrendered to Caesar - Vercingetorix and Caesar had actually had a history together before Alesia, and had known each other by name. Thus, the introduction of Vercingetorix to Caesar was unnecessary - Marcus Cicero's brother Quintus was strongly for Caesar, thus the two would have quarreled fiercely, along with Cicero's son and wife on his side, and Quintus's son and wife on his