Have you ever wondered what the ancient world was really like? Do you believe dinosaurs were just giant reptiles? Are you convinced gladiators always fought to the death? It’s time to set the record straight and unveil the fascinating truths hidden behind common myths. Let’s dive into debunking some widespread misconceptions, from how dinosaurs actually looked to the surprising hygiene habits of the Romans.
10. Dinosaurs Looked Like Reptiles
Pop culture often depicts dinosaurs as giant, scaly reptiles, much like crocodiles. This image, popularized by films like Jurassic Park, was once considered scientifically accurate. However, modern paleontological discoveries reveal a different picture: dinosaurs were more bird-like than lizard-like.
Many dinosaurs, including the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex, had feathers! This isn’t entirely shocking, considering that birds evolved from dinosaurs. These “terrible lizards” likely resembled huge, toothy, clawed, wingless chickens, moving with bird-like mannerisms. And that monstrous roar? Dinosaurs probably purred and cooed like doves. [1]
9. Ancient People Followed a Paleo Diet
The modern Paleo diet, popular among health enthusiasts, aims to replicate the eating habits of our ancient ancestors by focusing on meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, greens, and nuts, while excluding milk, grains, and legumes.
However, the reality is that the modern Paleo diet differs significantly from the actual diet of Paleolithic people. It emphasizes too much meat and fish, which were scarce for ancient hunter-gatherers. Instead, they consumed a wide variety of plants, including roots, flowers, and herbs that we would consider inedible today, like water lilies and thistles.
Replicating a true Paleolithic diet is nearly impossible because the plant world has evolved over millennia. The fruits and roots available today are vastly different from those consumed by our distant ancestors. Plus, ancient people lacked the ovens and multi-cookers needed for the complex dishes common in modern diets. [2]
8. The Egyptians Wrote in Hieroglyphs
When we think of ancient Egypt, we often picture pyramids, pharaohs, and hieroglyphs—those mysterious drawings representing objects, gods, animals, and more. The Egyptians used hieroglyphs for nearly 4,000 years, but they weren’t the only form of writing.
According to researcher Rosalie David, hieroglyphs were reserved for special occasions because the Egyptians believed that writing in this form could make things come true, giving the script a magical purpose. Writing in hieroglyphs was time-consuming and complex. For everyday use, the Egyptians employed hieratic and later demotic writing—cursive scripts that resembled regular letters. [3]
7. The Pyramids Have Always Been Sand Colored
In movies, Egyptian pyramids are almost always depicted in their current state: covered in yellowish sand. However, during the time of the pharaohs, the pyramids were actually snow-white!
They were constructed from white limestone, and the polished surface of the stones reflected sunlight intensely. A fragment of the Great Pyramid of Giza’s cladding reveals the pyramids’ original appearance. Over time, the polished stone eroded and became covered with sand. Imagine how much more impressive the Great Pyramid must have looked when it was white and gleaming under the sun. [4]
6. The Ancient Greeks Wore Togas
We often envision ancient Greeks as muscular athletes or grey-bearded philosophers draped in loose cloth, possibly naked underneath. Jacques-Louis David’s painting The Death of Socrates exemplifies this image. That rag-like blanket is often mistaken for a toga.
The truth is, the Greeks didn’t wear togas. Togas were invented by the Etruscans, who called this garment tebenna. The Romans later adopted it and renamed it toga. Romans frequently colored their togas and added patterns, with white togas worn by candidates seeking public office—hence the term “candidate.”
The Greeks preferred draped fabrics in various styles, including the chiton, peplos, and himation, worn over underwear like the perizoma (a loincloth for men and women) or other garments. [5]
5. In Greek Myth, Pandora Opened the Box
The myth of Pandora tells the story of the first woman on Earth, who opened a container given to her by Zeus, releasing all the world’s troubles. Realizing her mistake, she quickly closed it, leaving only hope inside.
The phrase “Pandora’s box” has become a common expression, but in the original Greek myth, there was no box. Zeus gave Pandora a pithos, a large ceramic jar used for storing olive oil.
In the 16th century, when Erasmus of Rotterdam translated Hesiod’s story into Latin, he confused pythos with pyxis (“box”). This translation error led to the enduring idiom “Pandora’s Box.” [6]
4. Gladiators Always Fought to the Death
Gladiatorial battles are often imagined as brutal fights to the death, with warriors battling amid the roaring crowds. However, research suggests that gladiators didn’t die as frequently as commonly believed.
Professor Michael J. Carter explains that the death of a gladiator in the arena represented a significant financial loss. Those who sponsored the games rented gladiators from trainers, and the death of a fighter would cost the sponsor nearly 50 times the rental fee.
Gladiators underwent extensive training and preparation, which cost their owners a considerable sum. Consequently, they were well-cared for and received medical treatment after battles. It’s estimated that only one in ten fights resulted in death. [7]
3. Gladiators Had Perfect Abs
Thanks to movies like Spartacus, Gladiator, and Centurion, we often picture gladiators as muscular, handsome athletes, frequently half-naked. The reality, however, was quite different.
Real gladiators were likely covered with a layer of subcutaneous fat. Anthropologists from the Medical University of Vienna who studied the remains of gladiators found that their diet consisted mainly of legumes and grains rich in carbohydrates, with little animal protein.
The historian Pliny even nicknamed gladiators hordearii, meaning “barley eaters.” This diet helped them build fat, which protected against injuries. While gladiatorial fights were bloody and cruel, a well-fed fighter had a better chance of avoiding damage to internal organs when struck with a sword. [8]
2. The Romans Had Excellent Hygiene
Some argue that if the Roman Empire hadn’t collapsed, we might already be colonizing the galaxy, citing their advancements in water pipes, sewers (“cloaca”), baths, and aqueducts. Compared to the Middle Ages, when people threw waste out of windows, Roman hygiene seems superior.
However, Roman hygiene is often exaggerated. Archaeological evidence shows that ancient Romans frequently suffered from intestinal parasites, fleas, lice, and diseases such as dysentery, typhoid, and cholera.
While the Romans had steam baths and public toilets, the water in the baths was rarely changed, and the toilets were unsanitary. Rats often bit people in these places. For personal hygiene, they used reusable sponges on sticks (xylo sponges), which were then placed in a tank of dirty water for the next user. Romans also used urine to rinse their mouths and clean their teeth and as an ingredient in some medicines. [9]
1. People in the Past Were Much Shorter
Some believe that people in the past were either giants or much shorter than we are today. Archaeological research suggests that the average height of the world’s population was about the same as it is now.
Average height fluctuates based on living conditions. Over the past 150 years, the average human height in developed countries has increased by about 3.9 inches (10 cm). Before this increase, there was a decrease from about 5’8″ (173.4 cm) in the early Middle Ages to almost 5’6″ (167 cm) in the 17th–18th centuries.
These variations are closely tied to nutrition and health. Height increases with improvements in living conditions, rather than simply over time. [10]
The ancient world is full of surprises! By understanding the truth behind these myths, we gain a clearer and more accurate view of history.
What surprised you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
