Warning! This Article Contains Spoilers For Gladiator 2!Maximus Decimus Meridius rubs dirt into his hands and smells it before each battle in Gladiator – and the ritual is incredibly important for understanding his character. Ridley Scott’s Gladiator stars Russell Crowe as Maximus, a betrayed Roman general who endures the long path to vengeance by becoming a gladiator of great renown. From the battlefields of Germania to the Roman Colosseum, Maximus begins each and every battle in Gladiator with an unusual pre-match ritual. He spends a few moments of silence before the fighting commences crouching down to scoop up a handful of dirt. He’ll then massage the soil into his palms, and usually take a sniff.

https://screenrant.com/gladiator-maximus-dirt-hold-smell-reason/