Romulus, as the name suggests, is about the founding of Rome. But rather than retelling the well-known myth, the show focuses instead on the historical reality of how the city came to be. It's certainly less flashy this way, but the grim lives of the 8th Century Latin tribes are no less fascinating. Bonus points go to Romulus for using archaic Latin (even if a lot of it is wrong).
Britannia is set far away from the marble of the Eternal City, in the strange and unforgiving land of ancient Britain. The Roman Legions are determined to conquer the island where Caesar had failed. However, their attempts are constantly frustrated by the local tribes and their strange druids. A great show if you want something focused on war.
We're being a bit cheeky, as this is really a docudrama, but enough of the most important moments are dramatized for it to make the list. Sadly, they change a lot of the key details during those dramatizations, and often for seemingly no reason, but this is nevertheless a solid watch for those interested in looking specifically at Caesar, Commodus or Caligula (each season focuses on one of these figures).
Masada is one of the older shows on the list, and it will certainly feel dated, but it's absolutely still worth a watch. The show is about the historical siege of the Masada citadel in Israel, in which the Jewish defenders tried to hold out for as long as they could against the Roman army. It's a great story, and Peter O'Toole is excellent as Lucius Flavius Silva.
This is another docudrama, but we promise it's the last. Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire ambitiously tries to cover the entire history of Rome by focusing on a key event or figure each episode. It starts with Caesar's conquests and ends with the Fall of Rome. A great watch for those who want a 101 on Roman history in just six episodes.
Domina tells the story of Augustus' influential wife Livia. She was indeed a very influential figure according to the historical record, and it's great to see Rome from a feminine perspective, but as you've guessed from the title they definitely take a femme fatale approach to portraying Livia. Still, a solid watch.
This is definitely more of an action series than a historical drama, and the portrayal of Germanic tribes is often ridiculous, but it's hard not to enjoy the epic battles between these so-called barbarians and the Roman Legions. If you enjoyed the opening battle in Gladiator, you will enjoy this show.
Spartacus is trashy in many ways, and would clearly rather entertain or titillate than inform. But, the figure of Spartacus - a Thracian gladiator who led a slave revolt in Capua - is real, and badass, and the show gives us a near-enough approximation of this event.
I, Claudius is a brilliant drama based on a novel of the same name. Yes it's dated, and you have to be prepared for a lot less fighting and a lot more talking, but there's a reason it's regarded as one of the best TV shows of all time. The script is superb, and the actors do it justice. So if you're looking for politics and intrigue in the early Roman Empire, look no further.
Trust an HBO production to land in the top spot, but it really does deserve to be there. And featuring soldiers, politicians and mistresses alike, Rome sits at the intersection between all the other shows; we have political intrigue, love and romance, and high-octane, gritty action. This is a must-watch.
There have been dozens of great films set in Ancient Rome, from the metropolitan heart of the city to the furthest reaches of the empire. And while we've had fewer TV shows about the Romans, there have also been some bangers on the small screen as well. Here are the top ten shows about Ancient Rome!
