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The world has greatly evolved, yet stories from ancient Rome continue to fascinate people. This is mainly because the era — stretching from the 8th century BC to the 5th century AD — had dozens of influential figures, all of whom had incredible accomplishments. Historians have thus dissected and re-reported the tales of prominent Romans for decades, but even though documentaries and books provide more details, TV shows tend to be much more entertaining.
There are numerous small-screen projects about ancient Rome, and among them, the following are worth the viewer's time because they offer a perfect blend of drama and information. Others go a step further to include iconic battlefield sequences, hence entertaining both the buffs and casual viewers who are simply looking for something captivating to watch. While the recent trend of thinking about the Roman Empire is sweeping the internet, these television shows greatly explore in detail one of the most fascinating parts of human history.
10 Barbarians (2020)
In most of the territories that they conquered, the Romans bullied the locals into submission, but there were always a few cases of disgruntlement followed by resistance. One such rebellion story can be found in Barbarians, where the chieftain, Arminius, leads a few tribes in a campaign against the Roman occupation of Germania, only for the mission becomes a lot harder because certain tribesmen intend to collaborate with the oppressors.
Leading the Roman side is the general Publius Quinctilius Varus, who is eager to quash the rebellion so as not to be seen as incompetent back home. After weeks of hostilities, the tense Battle of the Teutoburg Forest takes place, but before that happens, viewers learn a lot about the minor characters, thanks to detailed dialogue and sufficient background stories that make it easier to understand their motivations.
9 Spartacus (2010 – 2013)
A Spartacus revival is currently in the works, something that’s guaranteed to excite fans because the original show is mindblowing. From well-choreographed gladiatorial battles to intimacy-packed romance arcs, the show amazes in each of its episodes. Additionally, it had the best use of CGI at the time of its release, proving that the creators of historical dramas don’t have to spend too much money scouting for locations.
The Starz series revolves around the Thracian warrior Spartacus, who leads slaves into a rebellion against the Romans shortly after being sold to a Ludus in Capua to work as a gladiator. Apart from the fights, Spartacus extensively showcases the hedonistic culture of the Romans by featuring endless merrymaking sessions. In addition, the poetic dialogue is very pleasing to the ear.
8 The Ceasars (1968)
One of the little historical facts is that there was more than one influential Roman named Julius Ceasar. The one mostly referenced in history is Gaius Julius Caesar, but there were others like Germanicus Julius Ceasar and Drusus Julius Ceasar. Thankfully, The Ceasars explores their lives in depth, together with the exploits of other notable Roman rulers.
The British series consists of only six episodes; hence, it’s very precise. It aims to be more historically accurate than sensational, and due to airing in the 1960s meant there were fast restrictions, so there are neither depictions of debauchery nor disputed events. Most influential rulers are portrayed in a good light, allowing viewers to appreciate their contributions to civilizations more.
7 Domina (2021 – Present)
Domina offers everything that fans would want from a show of its kind. There is backstabbing, murder, affairs, scheming, and fighting. The costume design is also as historically accurate as it gets. However, there is one major difference. The juicy stories are told from the perspective of the women, especially Livia Drusilla, who rose to become the first empress of Rome.
Clear feminist messages are sprinkled all over the show, and as the minutes pass, viewers are introduced to some of the most empowering female TV characters. Livia, for example, becomes furious and smashes shrines when she learns she is pregnant again. A part of her wishes to not be chained to the cuffs of motherhood to satisfy her political ambitions. Several other women are also shown to be angry about the limitations and uncertainties that motherhood brings, notably Octavia, who curses out, “You always worry each birth will be your last.”
6 Britannia (2018 – 2021)
Britannia’s sword-and-sorcery combination makes it very similar to Game of Thrones. It’s actually more of Game of Thrones for history buffs since it focuses on an event that has been well-documented. In it, the Romans attempt to invade Britannia again, nine decades after Julius Ceasar failed to do so, and this time, they realize that the key to conquest is by stamping down on the influence of the religious leaders known as druids.
All the magic performed (one scene shows a seer mind-controlling an enemy soldier) is said to have happened in real life, yet that’s something that those who don’t believe in supernatural phenomena would obviously dispute. Apart from that, the show stays true to the chronological order of the events and accurately depicts the cultural practices of the time, such as smoking hallucinogenic twig fumes and making blood sacrifices to the gods.
5 Rome (2005 – 2007)
Stretching for only two seasons, Rome is one of the best short TV shows to binge on. And it would have gone on longer had it not been for ballooning budgets. Instead of Spartacus's use of CGI, Rome favored massive on-location shooting and real sets that made the series feel more real.
Rome avoids relying on the normal formula involving a rebel leader or leader as a protagonist. Here, viewers see the 1st century BC events through the eyes of two Roman soldiers as Ancient Rome morphs from a Republic to an Empire. The two individuals are based on soldiers mentioned in Julius Caesar's memoir Commentarii de Bello Gallico. Through them, viewers are introduced to other popular Roman figures like Octavian and Mark Antony. An effort is also made to include accurate Egyptian and Roman dialects, something that makes the show feel more authentic compared to others of its kind.
4 Plebs (2013 – 2022)
Plebs is a distinctive TV offering about ancient Rome because it’s actually a sitcom. Events center around two young men and their house slaves as they go about their daily chaotic lives in 26 BC Rome. Misfortunes keep coming their way, and as sad as it is for them, every moment when they curse out about their lives ends up being very funny in the eyes of viewers.
As far back as the period is, everything feels very relatable because the lads keep dealing with modern problems. Whether it’s the characters struggling to find love or arguing with landlords, it all feels very familiar. Even so, Phebs still strives to be historically accurate. One particular scene shows men in a public toilet pooing together, which is something that used to happen at the time.
3 Attila (2001)
Gerard Butler’s action movies are the actor’s most popular works, but he has done so much more, including starring in a Roman-themed miniseries. In Attila, Butler plays Attila, the leader of the nomadic Hun tribe who led campaigns against the Visigoths as well as the Eastern and Western provinces of the Roman Empire.
From Butler’s brilliant performance here, it’s easy to see why he became the first-choice actor to star in 300. Thanks to his commanding screen presence, the actor makes the protagonist very likable. He also delivers incredible lines of dialogue in just about every scene. “We conquer cities, we rule the world, and yet we can't even build a bath,“ he once complained to his aid after seeing a Roman woman bathing. In addition, there is a detailed parallel story involving Atilus’ archenemy, the Roman general, Flavius Aetius, who attempts to overcome bureaucratic obstacles as he does everything in his power to stop the ambitious warrior.
2 I, Claudius (1976)
I, Claudius covers Rome from 24 BC to 54 AD and is narrated by Emperor Claudius. Most of the events take place indoors, which is understandable given the budget limitations at the time, but what’s surprising is how explicit the show is. As is the case with Spartacus, no one hesitates to discuss and plan debauchery. In the pilot episode alone, two escorts compete to see who will have the most sex in one night. In another scene, two women joke about Emperor Tiberius' preference for anal sex.
Still, this isn’t all that the show has to offer. The acting is superb, and so is the storytelling. Like many older productions, much effort is also put into the camerawork. For example, the camera examines Emperor Augustus’ face from all angles when he dies, pumping up a sense of melancholy in the process. The intriguing events are all based on the similarly titled novel by Robert Graves.
1 Empire (2005)
It’s unfortunate that Empire went on to be buried under the popularity of the similarly titled FOX show revolving around music. It’s a brilliant series that follows Julius Caesar’s nephew, Octavius, as he overcomes various obstacles in his quest to become the emperor of Rome. Aiding him is a fictitious skilled gladiator named Tyrannus. The same Tyrannus is said to have been Caesar’s bodyguard at the time of his assassination.
The motivation thus makes sense. Tyrannus didn’t fail to protect Caesar because he was incompetent. He was distracted by the abduction of his own son. Angry at himself for failing to protect the famous ruler, he teams up with Octavius to make the conspirators pay and ensure no evil person ascends to the throne. The saga unfolds in six episodes, making Emperor the perfect quick binge for anyone with limited time to invest in a show.