A Historian Goes to the Movies: Ancient Rome
Ben-Hur: The Greatest Chariot Race
S1 E2:
Ben-Hur, from 1959, was an enormous financial risk that nevertheless became a cash machine for MGM Studios. In this episode, unpack the intricate tensions between the Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur and the Roman aristocrat Messala, then analyze the historical accuracies (and inaccuracies) of the film’s iconic naval battle and chariot race sequences.