Stupidest things you have ever seen written (about ancient history)

[anubis88]

So i was reading the most popular website of the national tv channel of my country, and there was that piece on "mystical" historical cities, like El Dorado, Karakurum, Ys etc... Among those there was Carthage as well; Here is what was written under the picture of modern day carthage in a rough translation;

... It was a most powerfull city state, and the main rival of Rome in the 3rd century BC. Her strenght came from it's killer phoenican fleet and an army of elephants, which controlled mountain ranges under Hannibal. Even tought her nickname was the Shining city, it did not survive for long, as it was taken by Rome and destroyed.

I mean Christ, how could someone write this on the most read webpage in the country? I guess it's time for me to start writing something about nano-technology and publish it somewhere, since it seems people can write just about anything these days...

Did you ever read such bull**** in your native web pages, or for worse, in books?

[Populus Romanus]

300.

[fomalhaut]

sometimes ancient history is more useful in its forced parrallels and morals (or wonderous feats) than in telling of the factual events. I know that's obvious but it does console me when watching things like "Ultimate Warrior", "300", "300 Spartans", etc. but i don't think you mean entertainment media but rather 'factual' nonsense.

i'm not sure where you live OP but if you get the history channel then just about anything mentioned, ancient history or not, is usually laughably wrong or exaggerated. It teaches the type of history that forms our cultural heritage rather than facts.

but definitely, PopulusR, 300 is one of the worst offenders but that is almost trite to mention that novel now.

[Duguntz]

300 is an awesome movie... AWESOME. you hear me?

[fomalhaut]

No one is contesting the perceived entertainment value of said piece of media! just its historical accuracy which is clearly not its goal in any way, but rather to use a particular point in ancient history to explore certain modern themes!

to many myself included the work is Frank Miller creating a us vs. them dichotomy to justify wars abroad or reinforce xenophobia of the first decade of the 21st century. Notice the perfect white males fighting the aggressive foreigners from the east who are implied to be homosexuals. The perfect white males are through their superior elan and culture of the west overcome these aggressive homosexuals until a physically handicapped person turncoats and destroys them.

Hmm, what were you trying to tell us, Frank Miller?

[mlc82]

(seen on a forum post today, paraphrased)

"Hannibal (Barca) and Cleopatra were black. They were from Africa."
http://weeseeyou.com/wp-content/uplo...q_hannibal.jpg

[Basileus_ton_Basileon]

...Lorica Segmentata.