Obvious Historical Errors on Television

I'm currently watching Season 2 of Roman Empire on Netflix. The first season was about Commodus. The second is about Caesar. I was half watching Episode 3: Crossing the Rubicon, when I noticed a coin like pendant around Pompey Magnus' neck. Under closer examination, it appears to be a counterfeit sestertius of Nero.

Pompey was assassinated in 48 BC; predating Nero's reign by more than 100 years.


There's also a scene where an accountant is taking count of all sorts of Pirates of the Caribbean-esque giant gold and silver medallions. I realize they aren't going to get decent looking counterfeits for these scenes; much like the scene in 300 where Xerxes' pierced face is on the obverse of his gold coin; but using a coin 100 years out of chronology is an obvious gaff.

Also note, this is suppose to be a docu-series; with cut-aways to actual historians and experts.

Post any other historical, blatant neglect scenes you can think of.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Yeah, that Netflix show is loosey-goosey with the history. Maybe I'm being picky, but it bothered me to see Crispina (played by Ella Becroft) wearing this hairstyle:



The real Crispina hairdo:

 

Don't ruin it for me before I get to watch it

 

Ha! Excellent catch .

 

***SPOILER ALERT***

Caesar gets stabbed to death by assassins.

 

The worse movie of all time for historicals inaccuracies : GLADIATOR !
https://www.historyhit.com/historical-inaccuracies-from-the-film-gladiator/

 

A great film, but bad history.

 

I think Braveheart would be a strong contender.

 

Ah, BUT! Princess Bride was REAL!





(Hey, after going through 6 daughters...yeah that is a true story!)

 

The chain around his neck is made two different types of chain.

 

I believe this is why I have never been a fan of historical fiction. It is obvious that entertainment value outweighs historical accuracy and there are some things that just can't be shown in modern theaters/tv. That is why I prefer something like Game of Thrones where the fictional people and places can do what they must without triggering offensive errors. If you can accept a twin sun system with dragons, things like whose face in on coins causes no troubles.

 

Only 2 more weeks to wait....

 

Gladiator was obviously highly flawed for numerous reasons, yet it was an entertaining film with just enough things they got right to make it one of the better movies about ancient times. The attention to detail sets it apart.

In contrast the film Fall of the Roman Empire, with Alec Guiness as Marcus Aurelius and Stephen Boyd and Sophia Lauren as well as Christopher Plummer as Commodus (which Gladiator was loosely based on) never really caught on and was somewhat of a failure at the box office.

As far as TV shows I think I, Claudius was the best that has been scripted to date, even though it is a bit dated.

 

Here is an example...

 

Well spotted, urtiberius SPQR. Some of these docu-people are more hysterical than historical !!!

 

The "I, Claudius" TV show was great cinema but as Robert Graves closely followed Suetonius and Tacitus, it's highly prejudicial against the emperors, any of them. Augustus AS and Tiberius Denarius, As of Claudius, Antioch Tetradrachmas of Agrippina and Nero

 

Sounds like you guys were spared the BBC's "Bonekickers" – if that counts?

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/nov/24/bonekickers-axed-bbc

I agree it was "mind-boggingly dreadful" - but can add a bit of background (I take all this from memory)

I was contacted before it started by a research assistant for the outfit who wanted to buy a replica of a coin of "King Mamluq of Egypt"

So, having pointed out the Mamluqs were a dynasty, not a guy, I added that I could supply a real example - for GBP 3 plus postage.

I expected to have my hand snatched off – but no - I was asked for a scan. Duly sent, but I got back no reply at all.

So about a year later I saw the first episode advertised in the Radio Times, and tuned in. Got to see an attractive young female in a trench excitedly holding up a coin of a (medieval Islamic) “King Mamluq” - followed by a close up of the item – which seemed to be a Sasanid drachm of Khusru II.

I stuck with it a bit longer, and they dug up more coins. As best as I could tell, it seemed that “King Mamluq” also struck some (fake) Black Sea Greek issues…………..

Lord Reath set up the BBC to offer “All that is best in every department of human knowledge, endeavour and achievement.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Reith,_1st_Baron_Reith

What went wrong?

Rob T

 

The worst movie of all time ? How about calling it Gloomiator ???

 

With her eccentric hairstyle, Crispina looks like a furry frog !!!