8 Myths about ancient Greece and Rome created by cinema

Sometimes filmmakers sacrifice the film’s credibility in favor of a captivating plot, despite consulting experts on historical veracity. As a result, viewers are given false ideas about certain events, personalities, and times.

we, from awesome.club, we decided to debunk some common myths we have about antiquity thanks to cinema. At the end of the article we will show you the real appearance of Queen Olympia, who was brilliantly played by Angelina Jolie.

Many legends are dedicated to the beauty of Helen of Troy, so it is not strange that she was played by beautiful actresses. Although we don’t know for sure Helena’s characteristics, it’s safe to say that her appearance corresponded to the maximum beauty of that time.

We can assume that Helen of Troy had a small forehead, a large and straight nose, a slightly raised chin and rounded forms. The book “On the History of the Destruction of Troy” says that Helena had fair skin and hair, large eyes and a small mole between her eyebrows.

Most think the Spartans were slovenly warriors, for whom looks were next to last. We were surprised to find that Spartan men took great care of their appearance.

The Spartans paid special attention to their hair, which was usually braided. In ancient sources, we can find references to the warriors’ thick hair, which reached the middle of their backs. The popularity of this type of hairstyle is also proven by the images that have come down to us.

In most films about Ancient Greece, the female characters wear perfectly fitted dresses, with intricate cuts and seductive cuts. But the reality was different.

The main components of ancient Greek costumes, both female and male, were the tunics (peplos or chiton) and the robe (himation). The peplos was just a rectangular piece of fabric, usually wool, with the top edge folded up to the waist. On the shoulders, the peplos were fixed with pins, and on the waist, with a special belt. On the sides, the fabric was sometimes sewn together or fastened with fibulas.

Chiton, on the other hand, was made of light fabrics such as linen. This type of tunic was sewn on the sides, belted and secured on the shoulder with buttons or pins. The female chiton reached the floor, and the male did not go below the knees.

The himation was worn over tunics only on one shoulder or as a cape. Women could also wear an epiblem shawl over the tunic. Fabrics were dyed brightly and decorated with embroidery.

Ancient Greek women are shown in cinema with their hair down, well-groomed eyebrows and a Mediterranean tan. The truth is that in Ancient Greece, natural fused eyebrows and fair skin were considered beautiful, and married women tied their long hair in a bun.

To get closer to the ideal, women bleached their skin, dyed their eyebrows with soot, or applied artificial eyebrows made from goat hair.

Studies of gladiator remains found in a mass grave indicate that they had a thick layer of subcutaneous fat. This led scientists to assume that gladiators ate little animal protein and their diet was rich in carbohydrates that came from grains. This also explains the nickname that ancient Roman wrestlers were given: “barley eaters”.

However, this does not mean that in Ancient Rome they skimmed on food for fighters. Based on the conditions in which they were found, it was possible to assume that the purpose of the plant-based diet was to increase the resistance and resilience of the fighters, that is, the gladiators were specially fed with carbohydrates so that they would fight better and last longer. To compensate for the lack of calcium, the fighters drank a special drink made from plant ash.

Contrary to what we see in the movies, gladiators didn’t always fight to their last breath. On the contrary, such an outcome was considered illegal. There were special rules for the fights, which were monitored by judges. A lot of money was invested in a gladiator and losing it was not very smart.

Gladiators were kept in decent conditions, were entitled to special food and even medical services. The wrestlers were very popular with the locals — their portraits decorated public places, and the boys dreamed of looking like the top wrestlers in the arena. Not all gladiators came from the lower class, there were volunteers—free citizens who willingly took the gladiator oath, exchanging freedom for money.

The fights were not an ordinary duel as we see in the movies. They were a spectacular show with elaborate sets and props. Gladiators wore pompous and intricate attire that vaguely resembled classical armor.

In fact, specific gestures did decide a gladiator’s fate, but they had nothing to do with the thumb. To forgive the fighter, the audience clenched their fists.

Looking at Angelina Jolie playing Queen Olympia — the mother of Alexander the Great, we involuntarily think that all women, back then, had a delicate nose, full lips and chiseled cheekbones. But in fact, Queen Olympias bears little resemblance to the image constructed by Hollywood. Judging by the only remaining image of her, we can say that Queen Olympia sported a classic Greek profile: she had a small forehead, a high chin, and a smooth face.

Which of these revelations is most surprising to you? Do you know any other historical myth created by cinema in our imagination? Tell in the comments!