{"id":3665,"date":"2023-03-26T21:02:53","date_gmt":"2023-03-26T20:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=3665"},"modified":"2023-03-26T21:02:53","modified_gmt":"2023-03-26T20:02:53","slug":"is-star-wars-based-on-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/is-star-wars-based-on-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Is star wars based on ancient rome?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is no secret that George Lucas was heavily inspired by Joseph Campbell when creating the Star Wars franchise. Campbell was an American author and scholar who specialized in comparative mythology and religion. In his 1949 book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell put forth the idea that there is a common narrative structure to all myths, regardless of culture. This “monomyth” as Campbell called it, typically features a hero who goes on a journey, faces trials and tribulations, and ultimately emerges victorious. Lucas has acknowledged that Star Wars is heavily indebted to Campbell’s work, even going so far as to name one of the central characters in the franchise, Luke Skywalker, after Campbell’s family.<\/p>\n

But what about the specific influences on Star Wars? Many have noted the similarity between the Galactic Empire and the Roman Empire. There are a number of ways in which the two can be compared, from the political to the military to the religious. The Galactic Empire even has its own version of the Roman Colosseum, known as the arena on the planet Geonosis. Of course, the Roman Empire was not the only ancient civilization that Lucas drew from when creating Star Wars. Other cultures and mythologies, such as the samurai of Japan and the Western genre of film, also<\/p>\n

No, “Star Wars” is not based on ancient Rome.<\/p>\n

What was Star Wars based on? <\/h2>\n

The idea of a hidden fortress hidden among the stars is a brilliant one, and George Lucas took inspiration from Akira Kurosawa’s classic 1958 samurai film The Hidden Fortress when creating his own galaxy-spanning sci-fi adventure, Star Wars. Lucas has often acknowledged the debt he owes to Kurosawa, and The Hidden Fortress is a clear influence on the Star Wars series. If you’re a fan of both, you’ll definitely see the parallels!<\/p>\n