A WEBSITE has been launched by a history enthusiast exploring the links between the "real-life" characters from Gladiator 2 and Scotland.
The site, called Romans in Scotland, maps out the journey of two of the main characters of the blockbuster hit — featuring Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal — across Scotland in 209 AD.
The sequel follows the 2000 film and explores a half-historical, half-fictionalised ancient Rome based on the novel by Ridley Scott.
Enthusiast Andy Wallace, from Edinburgh, has mapped out evidence which shows real-life siblings from Gladiator 2, Caracalla and Geta, came to Scotland in 209 AD to battle the Caledonians and stayed for two years.
Played by actors Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn, the historical figures visited Roman Britain in 209 AD with their father on his military campaign to northern Roman Britain.
Caracalla supposedly tried to poison his father and although the attempt failed, his father died in 211 AD. The brothers then returned to Rome as co-emperors, before Caracalla murdered Geta.
The film Gladiator 2 is based on events following their return from Scotland. It is believed that Caledonian bears were taken to Rome from today's Scotland for use in amphitheatres, and Wallace suggests they might have taken some during their stay.
Where did Caracalla and Geta from Gladiator 2 visit in Scotland?
Based on his findings, he said it is likely that the siblings visited Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling, sailing past Dundee and Aberdeen, with possible stops in Glasgow.
Despite two years of fighting, the Caledonians remained undefeated and were eventually paid off after the death of Caracalla and Geta's father in York.
Wallace said the website took seven years to complete and he launched it after realising the need for a definitive guide to the Romans in Scotland, one that explains their arrival and activities.
He said he decided to gather material from universities, museums, and government bodies and the site now showcases volunteer contributions from an international team of artists and archaeologists, from Nashville, Toronto, East Lothian, and the Saalburg Roman Museum in Germany.
Romans in Scotland features over 400 articles, 78 YouTube videos, 55 interactive maps, and over 1000 images. It is available in 240 languages, including Latin for any Romans and Gaelic for the Caledonians.
AI technology has also been used to recreate ancient scenes in Scotland, as well as videos which can be explored on the website.
