Welcome to Bad Ancient. We fact-check claims that are made about the ancient world. If you want to know if hoplites were named after their shields or if people in ancient times believed the world was flat, you’ve come to the right place.
Did Ptolemy I steal Alexander the Great’s corpse?
After Alexander the Great died, what happened to his body? Ancient sources make clear that Ptolemy I stole Alexander’s corpse while in transit to its burial place.
Was Cleopatra VII the final Ptolemaic ruler?
Cleopatra VII was the last, official Ptolemaic ruler in Egypt, but did any member of the Ptolemy family rule a kingdom after her?
Is Easter named after Ishtar?
Are the Easter celebrations somehow based on the ancient worship of the goddess Ishtar?
Was Livia the ultimate evil stepmother?
Livia comes with something of a negative reputation. But was she really such a fiendishly evil power broker?
Did most Roman gladiator fights end in death?
Gladiatorial contests are often depicted as bloody and brutal battles to the death, with only the most valiant fighters allowed to survive. But how true is this?
Did the Phoenicians circumnavigate Africa?
According to the ancient Greek writer Herodotus, the ancient Phoenicians were the first to circumnavigate Africa. But did it actually happen?
Was ancient wine more alcoholic than modern wine?
Because the ancient Greeks and Romans mixed their water with wine, it is often assumed that their wines were considerably more alcoholic than modern ones. Is this notion correct?
Were thumbs-up/thumbs-down gestures used to mean life and death in Roman gladiatorial arenas?
Popular portrayals of the gladiatorial games always present the Emperor presiding over them, gesturing with his thumb to offer his judgement: thumbs-up, the defeated gladiator may live; thumbs-down, he should die. But is there any actual evidence to support this image?
Did Roman phallic carvings “point” towards brothels?
Phallic imagery is not in short supply at the ancient site of Pompeii, including carved versions under foot. But did they really direct people to the brothel?
Was Homer a real person?
The epic poems that are known as the Odyssey and the Iliad were attributed in ancient times to a poet called Homer. But did this Homer really exist?