Kingdom of Heaven, directed by Ridley Scott, is an epic historical drama set during the Crusades in the 12th century. The film stars Orlando Bloom as Balian of Ibelin, a blacksmith who unexpectedly becomes a knight and defender of Jerusalem. The movie explores themes of faith, honor, and the complex political and religious conflicts between Christians and Muslims during this tumultuous period.

™ and © 2005 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Credit: David Appleby
Balian (Orlando Bloom, left) has much to learn from his father, Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson).

Visually, Kingdom of Heaven is stunning. Ridley Scott’s direction, combined with impressive cinematography and grand set designs, immerses viewers in the medieval world. The battle scenes are large-scale and intense, especially the siege of Jerusalem, which is one of the film’s highlights. The costumes and settings feel authentic, contributing to the overall epic atmosphere.

Orlando Bloom delivers a solid performance, portraying Balian’s transformation from a humble blacksmith to a noble knight with a strong sense of justice. However, some critics argue that his character lacks depth and charisma compared to other roles he has played. Supporting actors like Liam Neeson (Godfrey), Eva Green (Sibylla), and Jeremy Irons (Tiberias) add much-needed gravitas and complexity to the story. Ghᴀssan Mᴀssoud as Saladin offers a respectful and dignified portrayal of the Muslim leader, providing balance to the narrative.

Balian (Orlando Bloom) leads his knights into battle.

The film’s strength lies in its attempt to present a balanced view of the Crusades, avoiding the typical black-and-white portrayal of good versus evil. It shows both sides as human beings with motivations, fears, and virtues. This nuanced approach encourages viewers to think critically about religious intolerance and the consequences of war.

However, Kingdom of Heaven is not without flaws. The pacing can feel uneven at times, especially in the first half, where the story takes a while to build momentum. Some characters are underdeveloped, and certain plot points feel rushed or overly simplified. The romantic subplot between Balian and Sibylla, while adding emotional depth, sometimes detracts from the main narrative.

Interestingly, the theatrical release of Kingdom of Heaven received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office. Many critics felt the film was too long and that it sacrificed character development for spectacle. However, the Director’s Cut, released later, is widely regarded as superior. It adds about 45 minutes of footage, enhancing character arcs and providing a more coherent and satisfying story.

Overall, Kingdom of Heaven is a visually captivating and thought-provoking film that tackles a complex historical era with ambition and sincerity. While it may not fully satisfy viewers looking for a purely action-driven movie or a deeply personal character study, it offers a compelling meditation on faith, leadership, and humanity during a time of conflict.

If you enjoy historical epics with philosophical undertones and grand battles, Kingdom of Heaven is worth watching—especially the Director’s Cut version. It’s a film that encourages reflection on tolerance and the price of peace, making it relevant even today.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.