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About Ancient Fiction

Who we are

Ancient Fiction is a review website that aims to rank the historical accuracy of fictional films, games, and literature set in the ancient world. We are run by a volunteer group of Classics students from the University of Warwick. Below is a list of our contributors.

Image of Edward Summers

Edward Summers (UG)

Image of George Roffe

George Roffe (UG)

Image of Matthew Jenkins

Matthew Jenkins (UG)

Joshua Opara (UG)

Hana Lawrie (UG)

Daniel Treherne (UG)

About Ancient Fiction

We want this website to allow people to find modern works of fiction they might enjoy, as well as being able to learn a bit more about them from people that have studied Classics. Each work has a review written by one of us, and a rating for accuracy and entertainment value. Below you can find the criteria we used when rating.

FILM/TV

Accuracy

5- Perfectly accurate, remains true to historical fact in plot, set, costume etc, no or very little mistakes or inaccuracies

4- Good historical accuracy, largely true to historical fact, any anachronisms are intentional or serve a purpose

3 - Fairly historically accurate, creates a solid understanding of the historical period/events in question but with inaccuracies or missing details

2- Some historical accuracy, gives an idea of true historical events, several inaccuracies or mistakes

1 - Not at all historically accurate, very loosely based in reality, multiple inaccuracies/anachronisms

Entertainment

5- Excellent quality, great script and acting, highly enjoyable and entertaining, would rewatch and recommend to others

4- Very good quality, good script and acting, enjoyable and entertaining, would recommend to others

3- Good quality, solid script and decent acting, easy to watch and understand, fairly enjoyable

2- Okay quality, alright script and acting, somewhat complicated or boring, little entertainment value

1- Poor quality, bad script and acting, no enjoyment or education, too boring or over complicated, would not re-watch

 

GAMES

Accuracy

5- Highly detailed historical elements, that rarely, if at all, deviate from the source material.

4- Mostly grounded in primary and secondary material. Deviation allowed from accuracy when in relevance to gameplay.

3- Has a good balance of historical accurate and fictionalised elements. Characters are relatively accurate to the source material, but may deviate for entertainment values.

2- Limited relevance to historical records/evidence. Historical figures may have fictionalised aspects but retain some historical accuracy.

1- No relevance to historical records/evidence. Historical figures/setting may be entirely fictionalised.

 

Enjoyment

5- Excellent game of highest quality. High replayability, with well developed mechanics to supplement quality gameplay. Minimal faults.

4- Well made game. Draws the player in, and rich in gameplay. May leave some things to be desire however this by no means decreases satisfaction.

3- Reasonably satisfying to play. Gameplay has some problems, however these can be overlooked to an extent.

2- Gameplay functions, but provides little satisfaction. The game is of moderate quality, however more would be expected for higher tiers.

1- Gameplay barely functions. Unengaging, and low quality.

 
LITERATURE

Accuracy

5- Highly detailed historical elements, that rarely, if at all, deviate from the source material.

4- Mostly grounded in primary and secondary material. Deviation allowed from accuracy when in relevance to narrative.

3- Has a good balance of historical accurate and fictionalised elements. Characters are relatively accurate to the source material but may deviate for entertainment values.

2- Limited relevance to historical records/evidence. Historical figures may have fictionalised aspects but retain some historical accuracy.

1- No relevance to historical records/evidence. Historical figures/setting may be entirely fictionalised.

Enjoyment

5- Excellent book of highest quality. High readability, with well-developed characters to supplement a quality narrative. Minimal faults.

4- A decent book. Draws the reader in, and rich in prose. May leave some things to be desire however this by no means decreases satisfaction.

3- Reasonably satisfying to read. Writing has some problems; however these can be overlooked to an extent.

2- The book is somewhat readable, but provides little satisfaction. The text is of moderate quality, however, more would be expected for higher tiers.

1- Book is poorly written. Unengaging, and low quality.