Mark Zuckerberg has given a thumbs down to the much-buzzed-about Colosseum clash with Elon Musk! According to Zuckerberg, he proposed transforming the event into a charitable competition, but Musk has not confirmed a date and has offered reasons like the need for surgery. (Source: The Guardian)
Zuckerberg emphasized his intention to focus on engaging in sports with individuals who approach the activity earnestly, bidding arrivederci to this gladiator bout.
What led to this was a series of posts that Musk wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "The fight will be managed by my and Zuck's foundations (not UFC). Livestream will be on this platform and Meta. Everything in the camera frame will be in ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all. I spoke to the PM of Italy and the Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location. Everything done will pay respect to the past and present of Italy. And all proceeds go to veterans," Musk wrote.
The fight will be managed by my and Zuck’s foundations (not UFC).
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 11, 2023
Livestream will be on this platform and Meta. Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all.
I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location.
Recent months have witnessed heightened tensions between the tech magnates and their respective companies. In July, Meta, Zuckerberg's company, unveiled a text-based conversation app named Threads. However, Meta was met with a cease-and-desist letter from Twitter, alleging unauthorized use of their trade secrets and intellectual property.
So, while the idea of Musk-Zuckerberg in a toga tussle is benched, their tech turf war is very much ON.
EARLIER: Tesla boss Elon Musk on June 21 suggested that the highly anticipated cage fight between him and Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg should be held inside the famous Colosseum, a tweet by Musk suggested -
I’m up for a cage match if he is lol
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 21, 2023
In another tweet, the South Africa-born billionaire shared a minute-and-a-half long video with the caption: ‘Life of Brian Colosseum fight' and wrote, 'Need to work on my endurance'.
According to a report by TMZ Sport, the fight, which was supposed to have taken place in Las Vegas, may now shift to Rome after Zuckerberg was approached by Italy’s Minister of Culture.
Zuckerberg, who weighs approximately 65 kg, is trained in jiu-jitsu and has won medals in a few tournaments. He recently went viral after sharing a video where he was seen doing 100 pull-ups, 200 press-ups, and 300 squats, before jogging for 1.6 kilometers, all while wearing a 20 lb suit.
Musk, however, is no pushover. He weighs over 230 lbs, and has impressed his trainers with his physical prowess.
Some chance fight happens in Colosseum
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 30, 2023
The Big Q: Why Rome And The Colosseum?
The idea of a cage fight in the Colosseum is a novel one, and it has generated a lot of excitement online. The Colosseum, an oval amphitheater, is a symbol of Rome and its ancient past, and it would provide a dramatic backdrop for the fight. It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles from 80 AD to 438 AD.
Notably, the last fight in the Colosseum, which is one of the seven wonders of the modern world, was in 438 AD. This will be the first fight in the monumental structure - we can assume - since one of its sections collapsed.
OMG, Tell Me More!
The Colosseum was built between 70 and 80 AD by the Roman emperor Vespasian. It was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, after the Flavian dynasty of Roman emperors who ruled from 69 to 96 AD. The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles, such as animal hunts and executions.
The Colosseum was closed to the public in 438 AD, after a series of earthquakes damaged the structure. It remained abandoned for centuries, and it was not until the 18th century that restoration work began on the Colosseum. The Colosseum is now a popular tourist destination, and it is one of the most iconic landmarks in Rome.
Controversy At The Colosseum
The Battle of the Gladiators
This was a famous fight that took place in AD 80 between two of the most skilled gladiators in the Roman Empire, Spiculus and Flamma. The fight was so evenly matched that it lasted for hours, and both gladiators were eventually declared victors.
The Death of Commodus
Commodus was the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, and he was also a skilled gladiator. He fought in many contests in the Colosseum, and he eventually met his end in the arena when he was killed by a retiarius, a type of gladiator who fought with a net and trident.
The Massacre of the Christians
In AD 64, a fire broke out in Rome, and the emperor Nero blamed the Christians. As a result, many Christians were rounded up and executed in the Colosseum. The most famous of these executions was the one of Saint Peter, who was crucified upside down.
The Hunts
The Colosseum was also used for hunts, in which wild animals were released into the arena and then hunted down by gladiators or other trained professionals. These hunts were often very bloody and brutal, and they were designed to entertain the Roman crowds.
