It is often claimed that Crassus was killed by the Parthians in a gruesome manner: by having molten gold poured down his throat. But do our sources support this?

The film Gladiator II shows the Colosseum being filled with water and hosting a mock naval battle. Is this just historical fiction, or did the Romans actually do this?

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?

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?

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.

A late Chinese source suggests that the Romans may have landed in modern Vietnam on their way to the Han Imperial court. But is there strong evidence to suggest that the Romans really did have contact with Vietnam?

We are used to the idea of men fighting as gladiators in the Roman arena. But did women fight in a similar manner? In other words, did female gladiators exist in ancient Rome?

Cleopatra VII was the last, official Ptolemaic ruler in Egypt, but did any member of the Ptolemy family rule a kingdom after her?

Livia comes with something of a negative reputation. But was she really such a fiendishly evil power broker?

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?