History Literature / BenHur

* ChariotRace: The film version of the race is the TropeCodifier featuring SpikedWheels (Messala's "Greek chariot"), Messala whipping his horses and any driver within range. If you're tossed from the chariot, there's a token attempt at retrieval. Both the silent 1925 movie and the 1959 version featured spectacular accidents in each race that [[EnforcedMethodActing weren't staged]], [[invoked]] and the stunt drivers in each case only barely escaped with their lives. Ironically, while Messala exhibits an appaling lack of sportsmanship during the novel's version of the race and whips drivers who come in reach, it is ''Ben-Hur'' who uses a quick trick with the reins and the axle of his chariot to crush Messala's wheel and wreck him, though admittedly only after Messala was trying to do the same to him first.

* SparedByTheAdaptation: In the 2003 film, Messala lives on as a cripple and is healed at the death of Christ where he reconciles with the House of Hur.

* ShownTheirWork: Lew Wallace, the author, sought to make the novel as historically accurate as possible, studying the Bible and looking into Roman history, geography, culture, language, customs, architecture, and daily life in ancient Rome, among other things; he wrote in his autobiography that he once "went to Washington, thence to Boston, for no purpose but to exhaust their libraries in an effort to satisfy [himself] of the mechanical arrangement of the oars in the interior of a trireme", a boat that got its name from its three rows of oars. Wallace did not visit the Holy Land until after his novel was published; he went there in the mid-1880s to trace the steps of Ben-Hur and test the accuracy of his description of Jerusalem. He wrote in his autobiography: "I found the descriptive details true to the existing objects and scenes, and I find no reason to make a single change in the text of the book."

The novel reflects [[CentralTheme themes]] of [[EtTuBrute betrayal]], [[{{Determinator}} conviction]] and {{redemption|quest}}, with a revenge plot that leads to a story of love and compassion. It's had [[DerivativeWorks/BenHur several adaptations]], the most famous one being of coure the Creator/WilliamWyler-[=directed=] [[Film/BenHur1959 epic film]] from 1959 starring Creator/CharltonHeston and Creator/StephenBoyd.

The novel reflects [[CentralTheme themes]] of [[EtTuBrute betrayal]], [[{{Determinator}} conviction]] and {{redemption|quest}}, with a revenge plot that leads to a story of love and compassion.

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[[folder:Adaptations]]

[[AC:Live-Action Film]]
* ''[[Film/BenHur1907 Ben-Hur]]'' (1907), SilentMovie starring Herman Rottger and William S. Hart.
* ''[[Film/BenHur1925 Ben-Hur]]'' (1925), SilentMovie starring Creator/RamonNovarro and Francis X. Bushman.
* ''[[Film/BenHur1959 Ben-Hur]]'' (1959), starring Creator/CharltonHeston and Creator/StephenBoyd.
* ''[[Film/BenHur2016 Ben-Hur]]'' (2016), starring Creator/JackHuston and Creator/TobyKebbell.

[[AC:Live-Action Television]]
* ''Ben-Hur'' (2010), a two-part miniseries starring Creator/JosephMorgan as Ben-Hur, Stephen Campbell Moore as Messala and Creator/EmilyVanCamp as Esther.

[[AC:Animation]]
* ''Ben-Hur'', a 2003 animated film. Charlton Heston reprised his iconic role through voice acting, in the final performance of his career.

[[AC:Theatre]]
* The novel was adapted for theatre for the first time in 1899 in New York. It was dramatized by William W. Young.
* ''Ben-Hur'', a 2006 French live theatrical show/hippodrama directed by Robert Hossein and adapted by historian Alain Decaux.
* ''Ben-Hur Live'', a 2009 British live theatrical show/hippodrama, produced by Franz Abraham with music and narration by Stewart Copeland.
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* MeaningfulRename: After he's adopted by Quintus Arrius, he is known within Roman circles as Quintus Arrius as well (per Roman adoption customs) and this hides his identity from Messala for a while.

* ''[[Film/BenHur1925 Ben-Hur]]'' (1925), SilentMovie srarring Creator/RamonNovarro and Francis X. Bushman.

* ''Film/BenHur1907''
* ''Film/BenHur1925''
* ''Film/BenHur1959''
* ''Film/BenHur2016''