04-15-2009, 09:15 AM
I am writing a little book on common errors about ancient history. Not the lunatic fringe, but common opinions, like:
* Ancient ships were rowed by slaves
* The Phoenicians invented the alphabet
* Caracalla gave Roman citizenship because he needed more taxes
* Until the battle in the Teutoburg Forest, the Romans tried to reach the Elbe
* The Romans wrote four as IV
* There were camels in the ancient Near East
* Cleopatra was killed by an asp
* VIIII Hispana disappeared in Caledonia
* There was a gate in Jerusalem called "eye of the needle"
* Vespasian died with the word "I am afraid I am becoming a god"
* Archimedes fought against the Romans with burning mirrors
* Muslims destroyed the library of Alexandria
* Carrhae is in the desert
* Homer was blind
Et cetera. Any suggestions?
* Ancient ships were rowed by slaves
* The Phoenicians invented the alphabet
* Caracalla gave Roman citizenship because he needed more taxes
* Until the battle in the Teutoburg Forest, the Romans tried to reach the Elbe
* The Romans wrote four as IV
* There were camels in the ancient Near East
* Cleopatra was killed by an asp
* VIIII Hispana disappeared in Caledonia
* There was a gate in Jerusalem called "eye of the needle"
* Vespasian died with the word "I am afraid I am becoming a god"
* Archimedes fought against the Romans with burning mirrors
* Muslims destroyed the library of Alexandria
* Carrhae is in the desert
* Homer was blind
Et cetera. Any suggestions?
