The much-talked-about cage fight challenge between tech moguls Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg could potentially find its home in Italy, steeped in an ancient Rome motif.
The saga that began in June has taken an intriguing twist, as Italy's culture minister expressed interest in hosting the anticipated showdown as a charitable event, combining history and modern rivalry.
The chief executives of Tesla and Meta, formerly known as Facebook, have been playfully taunting each other about the idea of a physical face-off for months.
The latest development unveils Italy's potential involvement, with discussions at the highest levels of government.
Elon Musk took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share his vision, detailing that the setting would evoke the grandeur of ancient Rome, omitting any modern elements from the camera frame.
Despite the anticipation for the Colosseum, Italy's iconic amphitheater synonymous with gladiatorial combat, it has been revealed that the event will not take place in Rome.
Italy's Culture Minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, emphasized the importance of preserving the country's cultural heritage while creating a "great charity and historical evocation event."
Sangiuliano and Musk's shared passion for ancient Roman history seems to have fueled this unique concept.
In a statement, Sangiuliano expressed his enthusiasm for the prospective event:
"We are thinking about how to organize a great charity and historical evocation event, respecting, and fully protecting the setting... It will not take place in Rome."
The minister also hinted at a substantial contribution to Italian children's hospitals, potentially amounting to "many millions of euros."
Elon Musk, aged 52, and 39-year-old Mark Zuckerberg, both renowned technology billionaires, have continued to drum up excitement for their hypothetical clash.
The peculiar proposition originated when Musk playfully tweeted about being "up for a cage fight" with Zuckerberg.
The Meta CEO, who boasts mixed martial arts training and recent jiu-jitsu victories, responded with a succinct "send me location."
As the anticipation builds, industry observers and the public alike are left speculating about the logistics and outcome of the cage match.
Meta has not yet commented on the latest development, leaving many curious about the possible implications of the Italian twist on this modern rivalry turned historical spectacle.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain: if this event comes to fruition, it will undoubtedly be a spectacle for the ages, merging modern technology titans with the echoes of ancient history.