Marlon Brando as Marc Antony in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s 1953 film, *Julius Caesar.* Have grapes ever been riper?

Kirk Douglas as the titular Spartacus in the 1960 film directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Hiram Keller as Ascilto and Capucine as Trifena in Federico Fellini’s 1969 film, *Satyricon.*

Phil Silvers as Marcus Lycus in Richard Lester’s 1966 film adaptation of the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Zero Mostel in *A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.*

Charlton Heston as Mark Antony in Stuart Burge’s 1970 film, *Julius Caesar*.

Do All Roads Really Lead to Rome?

A female writer with no interest whatsoever in the Roman Empire takes stock of the viral social-media trend—and women’s response to it

By Flora Gill

How often do you think about the Roman Empire? It’s the question on everyone’s lips.

If you’re not familiar with the trend making the rounds on social media right now, it originates from a Roman re-enactor who posted a video on his Instagram with the caption: “Ladies, many of you do not realise how often men think about the Roman Empire. Ask your husband/boyfriend/father/brother—you will be surprised by their answers.” People started to take him up on the suggestion, and the responses were, as he’d promised, shocking. The answers ranged from once a month to as many as multiple times each day.