Ancient Rome maintains a grip on pop culture, from Hollywood blockbusters to video games. Since its establishment in 31 B.C., the Roman Empire exerted its influence throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. But what if the Rome we think we know—complete with deadly arenas, decadence, and marble statues—is more fiction than fact? From not-so-deadly gladiator tournaments to the real purpose of the vomitorium, here’s the truth behind eight myths about ancient Rome.

Myth #1: Gladiators always fought to the death
In contrast to the kill-or-be-killed depiction of gladiator combat in films, not every bout was a fight to the death. In his book Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants, historian Garrett Ryan estimated that gladiators died in only one-fifth of fights.