Below is an overview of all the claims that we have examined so far. Have you come across a claim you’d like us to fact-check? Feel free to send it to us.
Were Greek boxers ripped?
Were the physiques of ancient combat sports athletes ultra-ripped? They certainly had very active professions that required them to be incredibly strong, but did they look the same as modern bodybuilders?
Did the Carthaginians sacrifice human babies?
Many of our Roman sources claim that the Carthaginians sacrificed babies to their gods, but how true is this?
Are there tunnels under Nan Madol?
Countless storytellers tell of a network of underground tunnels beneath the ancient city of Nan Madol (Pohnpei, Micronesia). Is there any merit to these tales?
Were Christians fed to the lions?
We all think we know that Christians were regularly fed to lions by pagan Romans, and this likely did happen. But is it an isolated phenomenon specifically targeted at a new and radical sect?
Did Emperor Tiberius abuse young children on Capri?
The Roman biographer-historian Suetonius claimed that the emperor Tiberius indulged many sexual vices in his villa on Capri, including with small children – but how accurate or justified were his claims?
Did modern mathematics originate in the fifth century BCE?
It is often assumed that the Greeks invented mathematics in the 5th century BCE, and that they had a set definition of what it entailed. But this is an over-simplification of the history of mathematics.
Did the Spartans only use music for military purposes?
The Spartans did use music in military contexts. Various sources attest to the practice of campaign war-songs and marching music. However, the claim that the Spartans focused only on military music – at the expense of any interest in non-military music – is simply incorrect.
Was the earth of Carthage salted after its fall during the Third Punic War?
It is often claimed that following the destruction of Carthage by the Romans, the lands of the city were salted to prevent future generations living there. But is there any evidence to support this?
Did the Greeks believe that satyrs had the legs and horns of goats during the Classical period?
Modern depictions of satyrs portray a creature that is half-man half-goat, but has that always been the case?
Did those who were about to die salute Caesar?
Gladiators are often portrayed in film and television addressing the Emperor before battle with a salute, inspired by an episode in Suetonius. But scholars question how wide spread this practice actually was.