While teaching primary school children about the Romans, and specifically hygiene, we have encountered the belief that they cleaned their teeth with urine. We dispel this myth while explaining what uses urine did have in the past.

Science overwhelmingly agrees that urine is not safe or healthy to consume. Despite what some might claim, drinking urine offers no health benefits and actually could cause you harm.

In the big scheme of things today’s post is a very minor gripe. It does, however, reflect on the historical accuracy of television dramas, documentaries and films. You may not have noticed it, but it happens pretty much every time characters interact over a radio. Once pointed out, then, like an ear worm, you will hear it often. Today’s bug bear is "Over and Out".

In the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme in Roma there is a mosaic, dating from the early 1st-century AD, depicting various food items including a basket of fruit brimming with figs, grapes, pomegranates, and one curious object. Some viewers see a pineapple and this has led others to postulate this as clear evidence that the ancient Romans had contact with South America. Find out why it's a myth.

A recent search of the internet for information on Roman artillery machines returned, amongst other results, a website with a page entitled ‘The Roman Trebuchet Catapults’ [sic]. The title is misleading and we challenge the 'facts' cited.

Farinata, a classic Italian street food, is claimed to have been discovered by Roman soldiers who baked chickpea flour pancakes on their shields. For good reason this is undoubtedly a myth. Find out why.

Cleopatra VII was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty, ruling Egypt. She is celebrated for her beauty and popularised for her love affairs with Roman generals, but she was much more than the movie myth. Highly intelligent, a skilled politician and a stateswomen, Cleopatra was an indomitable African queen.

It is widely held, and oft repeated, that ancient Britons, and most especially the Picts, painted or tattooed their bodies with Woad.We all know that, because depictions of the Iron Age or Roman period on television and film nearly always show the indigenous tribespeople painted in 'mystical' blue designs. It seems, however, that the evidence for Woad inspired body art is not as rock solid as one might have hoped. Another myth to be dispelled?

Somehow we got talking about ghosts a couple of days ago. We both were reminded of working at Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire and how it claimed to be one of the most haunted places in the UK. We both seemed to recall that Mary, Queen of Scots was one of those said to roam the grounds, but were we remembering correctly? Not only that, but wasn't Mary executed at Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire? Why would she be haunting Tutbury some 75 miles distant? We had to check.

Dispelling the Myth that the murderous "Barber of Fleet Street", Sweeney Todd, was a real person. And there's a recipe for "A Beef Steak Pye".

It is often asserted on television and online that a skilled Welsh or English longbowman could shoot about 12 arrows per minute. But what is the origin of this claim, and just how true is it?

On November 18th, 1910, three hundred female protesters marched to the Houses of Parliament as part of their campaign to secure voting rights for women. What happened next saw the women met with violence from the police and male bystanders. The shocking nature of the violence led to the day being christened "Black Friday".

When TV shows have a narrow historical focus or make claims that seem a little too bold, it's only right to challenge them and if necessary redress the balance. Such is the case with the US TV series "Man at Arms: Art of War" and its assertions on how ahead of the world was Chinese ironworking.

Dispelling the myth that a Medieval sword's fuller acts as a "blood groove" so the blade does not get stuck in a body.

You often hear it said that people in the past drank beer all day, every day because water was dirty or fouled. Have those who claim this never heard of water wells? Time to dispel another myth.

Just who were the Amazons? Where they a fierce tribe of men-hating women or was this propaganda spread by ancient Greek men?

Because spices were expensive there is a persistent idea that Medieval peasants ate bland and tasteless food. It's a myth. Find out why?

One of two bodies found in Pompeii in 2020 was assumed to be a "slave", but is this true?

Find out how much the soldiers of Rome were paid and whether they really were paid in salt?

Winners at the ancient Greek Olympic Games were awarded olive wreaths unlike the medals of today.