Popular Culture
Scythed chariots have appeared in several films. A scythed chariot can be seen in the chariot race depicted in the film Ben Hur, operated by Messala. Scythed chariots are seen in the first Colosseum scene in the film Gladiator. In the film Alexander by Oliver Stone, scythed chariots are shown charging into Macedonian phalanx during the beginning of Battle of Gaugamela scene. The chariots were also used in older films such as Solomon and Sheba. It was also shown in the 2011 film The Eagle.
In the Spike TV show "Deadliest Warrior", a scythed chariot was the special weapon of the Persian Immortal.
Applying similar blades to automobiles instead of chariots is a common trend in modern culture. In Goldfinger, James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 has a wheel-destroying spike inspired by Ben-Hur's scythed chariot. An episode of Mythbusters was devoted to testing such a device. Such devices were deemed "confirmed", noting that while blade durability may be low, such a device was highly effective at not only destroying tires, but could also detach wheels or injure the opposing driver.
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