Fact check

Antiquity · Myth & fact

Pollice verso: What did the thumb really signify during gladiatorial combat?

Thumbs up or down – it wasn’t quite that simple. What ancient sources really say about the thumbs-up gesture in the arena, and where our image comes from.

29 September 202611 min

Ancient Poisonings in Rome: The Empire’s Most Notorious Female Poisoners

Poisoning was Rome’s invisible weapon of power. Who were the infamous female poisoners of the Empire – and how did they go about their work?

19 September 202617 min

Antiquity · Myth & fact

Gladiators: Did they really always fight to the death? – A historical fact check

Gladiators were regarded as bloodthirsty killers – but what is the reality behind this? A look at historical sources dispels common myths.

8 September 202621 min

Viking Age · Myth & fact

Viking names and their quirky meanings – Nose-Björn & Co.

Viking names such as ‘Nose-Björn’ sound strange – but there’s a fascinating story behind them. We reveal the meaning behind these quirky nicknames from the Viking Age.

27 August 202618 min

Viking Age · Myth & fact

How tall were Vikings really? Height vs. legend

Two metres tall and with horns? The stereotype of the giant Viking persists. What skeletal finds and research actually reveal about their height is astonishing.

13 August 202621 min

10 things about the Middle Ages you didn’t know

The Middle Ages are full of surprises! We dispel common myths and reveal 10 facts that shed new light on this fascinating era.

8 August 202617 min

Viking Age · Myth & fact

A Viking helmet with horns? Fact-checking history’s biggest myth

Horns on a Viking helmet? A long-standing misconception – we reveal what archaeologists actually found and how this myth might have arisen.

6 August 202614 min

Viking Age · Myth & fact

Curious facts about the Vikings: from filed teeth to board games on longships

Horned helmets? Think again! Vikings filed their teeth and played board games at sea. This article reveals some of the other surprising facts about these Nordic seafarers.

1 August 202617 min