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The Romans are frequently depicted as a society engulfed by excess and indulgence—an empire once mighty, now known for its gluttony, drunkenness, and wild pleasures, not to mention the brutal gladiator combats for entertainment.
In reality, Roman society was built on a rigorous legal framework, which, although not democratic, protected the rights of Roman citizens. They were held to a moral code called mos maiorum, which outlined virtues such as integrity, modesty, honesty, perseverance, and dedication to public duty.
So, who is to blame for these misunderstandings? Is it Kirk Douglas? Hollywood has a fondness for togas, and historical accuracy tends to be optional in their productions, right? Here are ten things you thought you knew about the Romans that are, in fact, completely false.
10. They Didn't Build Vomitoriums to Indulge in Excessive Feasts
Popular myth suggests that vomitoriums were specially designed rooms next to feasting halls, where guests could vomit to make space for more food, allowing them to return to the table and continue eating. But when you really think about it, this idea is ridiculous. Who would want a room just for throwing up?
The Romans did have vomitoriums—many of them, in fact—and they were often found beside feasting halls. So what exactly were they? Vomitoriums were simply passageways or anterooms where crowds could exit the main hall. They were essentially lobbies, not places for purging after indulgence.
The Colosseum in Rome had 80 vomitoria. That should have been a clue! Here’s a lesson: just because one word in a language sounds somewhat like another word in a different language doesn’t mean they share the same meaning. While the Romans enjoyed elaborate banquets, there’s no evidence they made a habit of vomiting during them. And if they did, they’d probably just use the bathroom.
9. Thumbs Up/Down? That Wasn’t Really a Thing
A widely believed misconception is that during gladiatorial fights, the emperor—or sometimes the crowd—would determine the fate of the defeated fighter with a thumbs-up for life and a thumbs-down for death. Who’s responsible for this? Kirk Douglas? Or was it Joaquin Phoenix in that other gladiator film?
In ancient Rome, a thumbs down didn't signal death; instead, it meant 'swords down' or 'stop fighting,' indicating that the defeated gladiator would live to fight another day. In reality, most gladiatorial matches didn’t end in death. Gladiators were highly trained, and killing them off regularly would have been a poor investment of time and money.
Gladiator battles were often more about endurance than bloodshed. Wielding swords for long periods is exhausting. If one gladiator was clearly the victor—whether due to injury or exhaustion—the fight would typically be over. On rare occasions, sponsors would pay extra for a death match and compensate the losing gladiator's trainer for the lost income.
Despite the inherent dangers, gladiators were treated like celebrities. Slaves had the chance to earn their freedom, and those who survived long careers could become wealthy as trainers. In 2007, archaeologists uncovered a gladiator graveyard. Some skeletons showed signs of healed wounds, indicating they received medical treatment, while others had fatal injuries from swords and tridents. Some with hammer blows to the head likely didn’t die in the arena but were given mercy after suffering severe injuries.
A kind gesture, indeed.
8. They Didn’t Just Speak Latin
Surprise! It’s commonly thought that everyone in ancient Rome spoke Latin, but that’s not the case. While Latin was the official written language, many other languages were spoken, both within Rome and throughout the empire. Some of the more common languages spoken in Rome included Greek, Oscan, and Etruscan.
Latin was the official language of the empire, but it had many regional variations. In the early 14th century, Dante Alighieri identified more than 1,000 distinct versions of Latin spoken across Italy. The uniformity of Latin only existed in written form, and even Roman patricians probably didn’t speak Latin all the time—Greek was considered the language of the educated elite.
Given the vast expanse of the Roman Empire, a common language was necessary for efficient governance, so Latin was used for official purposes across the empire. However, it’s a misconception that all Roman citizens spoke Latin on a daily basis.
7. Plebs Weren’t Necessarily Poor and Uneducated
In modern times, the word 'pleb' is often used as an insult, implying that someone is of low social status. In 2014, a British MP was accused of calling a police officer a pleb, a scandal that ultimately led to his resignation from his ministerial role.
In Rome, however, being a plebeian simply meant being an ordinary citizen, not a member of the elite patrician class. Though initially excluded from holding public office, plebeians fought fiercely for their rights, even withdrawing from the state and establishing their own form of governance until their demands were met.
Patricians were the descendants of the original ruling families and formed an aristocracy in Rome. But like all upper classes, they eventually learned that wealth and power are not permanent—being on top today doesn't guarantee you'll stay there forever. Over time, the plebeians fought for and gained equal status, leading to the decline of the old aristocratic order.
6. Togas Were Not Worn All The Time
Whenever Hollywood makes a movie set in ancient Rome, the togas always make an appearance, which certainly makes the costume department’s job easier. But in reality, there were many different styles of toga worn throughout the empire and across different time periods.
A toga is essentially a large piece of cloth draped over the shoulder. It was exclusively worn by men, and typically only on special occasions. Early versions were simple, but as time went on, togas became more elaborate, heavy, and sometimes quite cumbersome. There was a social hierarchy of togas, almost like a uniform, with the emperor’s toga being purple, signifying his supreme status.
For everyday use, Romans preferred more practical clothing. Tunics made from linen or wool were common, and soldiers wore leather tunics. Some even opted for pelts from bears or big cats. Short tunics, however, were typically worn by lower-class individuals or slaves.
Women, slaves, and those exiled from Rome were prohibited from wearing togas. By the end of Roman rule, even citizens had begun to wear trousers, a style previously only worn by barbarians.
5. They Didn’t Salt Carthage
Rome and Carthage (modern-day Tunisia) waged three wars over a span of about 100 years. In 146 BC, Carthage was finally destroyed, and 50,000 prisoners were sold into slavery by the Romans.
The Third Punic War was brutal and fierce. When Rome emerged victorious, Carthage was completely leveled, with every building reduced to rubble. However, the claim that the Roman army salted the earth to make it infertile for generations seems to be nothing more than a myth. While the idea of salting was a symbol of complete destruction, there’s no contemporary evidence to suggest that the land was actually salted.
Furthermore, salt was an expensive commodity. It would have taken an immense amount to permanently damage the soil, and after already enslaving its citizens and destroying the city, it’s unlikely that the Romans would have gone to the trouble of salting the land.
4. Nero Did Not Fiddle While Rome Burned
When selecting a biographer, it’s crucial to choose someone who holds a certain affinity for you. Suetonius, who penned Nero's biography, recounts how Nero “indulged in every form of depravity,” including incest, murder, and even cruelty to animals.
Suetonius further details how, during the great fire that ravaged Rome in AD 64, Nero ascended the city walls in full theatrical attire, weeping as he recited verses from an epic poem on the fall of Troy. A later historian, Cassius Dio, expanded on this tale, suggesting that Nero's theatrical costume became described as the “garb of a cithara player.” The cithara, a precursor to the lute, eventually led to the creation of the modern guitar.
Thus, it is often suggested that Nero, indifferent to the suffering of Romans, played the fiddle while watching the city burn. Shakespeare’s play Henry VI even mentions Nero playing the lute while “witnessing the towns go up in flames.” But in 1649, playwright George Daniel transformed the image into Nero playing a fiddle, stating, “Let Nero fiddle out Rome’s obsequies.”
And that was all there was to it.
Nero’s biographer capitalized on the prevailing sentiment when describing the emperor’s strange actions, given that Nero was not a well-liked ruler. Some even speculated that the fire was rather convenient, as Nero had long desired to construct a new palace and needed space to do so. While this may have been true, there’s evidence suggesting that Nero was not actually in Rome when the fire broke out, and the entire incident may have been fabricated.
3. Gladiators Were Not All Slaves
The stereotype of the gladiator as a handsome slave, possibly with a dimpled chin, is only partially accurate. While some gladiators were slaves, others were convicted criminals. There were also men who willingly volunteered for the arena, lured by the fame and fortune it promised. Most gladiators were common laborers, but some were patricians who had lost their wealth. Additionally, there were women gladiators.
The first documented gladiatorial games took place in 264 BC. In 174 BC, 74 men participated in a three-day event. In 73 BC, a slave named Spartacus (yes, that Spartacus) led a gladiator revolt, yet the games continued to gain popularity. Caligula added his own twist by having criminals thrown to wild animals in the center of the arena.
By AD 112, the sport had gained such popularity that when Emperor Trajan hosted Roman games to commemorate his triumph in Dacia, 10,000 gladiators—comprising men, women, the rich, the poor, slaves, and free people—fought in games that spanned several months.
2. Caligula Never Made His Horse A Consul
The name Caligula evokes many images, not all of them flattering. His life is shrouded in so many myths that distinguishing truth from fiction is challenging. Most of what we know about his reign comes from the writings of Seneca, who may have been biased, as Caligula almost had him executed in AD 39 for his association with conspirators.
We do know that Caligula became emperor at just 25 years old. Initially, his reign seemed promising, as he declared amnesty for those imprisoned by the previous emperor, eliminated taxes, and organized Roman games. However, after several months, he fell ill, possibly due to excessive bathing or perhaps as a result of his indulgent sexual lifestyle. Whatever the cause, he contracted a “brain fever,” from which he never fully recovered.
He started to display increasing signs of paranoia. He had several of his closest advisors executed, banished his wife, and forced his father-in-law to take his own life. Rumors circulated that Caligula had an affair with his sister, though there's little concrete evidence aside from their reported closeness. Caligula declared himself a living god and would often sit in his temple, waiting for offerings. His attention shifted away from governing Rome, instead focusing on various forms of entertainment. He even had hundreds of ships tied together to create a bridge, so he could ride his horse over the Bay of Naples.
Caligula certainly had a fondness for his horse, which may have given rise to the tale that he appointed the animal as a consul and sought its counsel. However, no contemporary records support this claim. Suetonius' writings only mention that Caligula expressed his intention to do so, not that he actually followed through. Given Caligula's eccentricity, it's hard to say whether he actually looked to his horse for advice.
Caligula met his end in AD 41 after rashly declaring plans to relocate to Alexandria, Egypt, where he believed he would be worshipped as a living god. He was assassinated by three of his own guards.
1. The Romans Didn’t Invent The Nazi Salute
It is widely believed that the Nazi salute originates from the Roman Empire—arm raised slightly with the palm facing downward. However, evidence to support this connection is scarce. There are no contemporary documents detailing the exact form of the Roman salute, though it is almost certain one existed.
The idea of the Roman salute likely gained traction due to the painting Oath of the Horatii (1784), which depicts soldiers striking a similar pose. However, there’s no indication that this was anything more than the artist’s creative interpretation. Early films, especially from Hollywood, further cemented this misconception. Mussolini’s fascist regime, eager to connect with Italy’s ancient past, adopted what they believed to be the salute of their ancestors.
As for Hitler, he simply borrowed the idea from Mussolini. He also appropriated the swastika from the Buddhists (one of many religions to have used the symbol), but that’s a story for another time.
