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How often do you think about the Roman empire? That was the听听by a highly popular TikTok trend from last year. Women the world over were surprised to find out that, for many men, the answer is 鈥渆very day鈥�, or at least 鈥渟everal times a week鈥�.

A resulting social media frenzy led to wide range听听and op-ed pieces speculating about why听.

Irrespective of how often you personally think of Rome, its influence in the modern world is undeniable 鈥� and we need only look at our televisions to prove this.

Storytellers have long embraced the ancient Roman world as a vessel to explore a variety of themes. Amazon Prime鈥檚 recent series听听is just the latest example. Meanwhile, cinephiles and fans of the genre are waiting to see whether Ridley Scott can recapture the magic of the Oscar-winning film Gladiator (2000) in its forthcoming sequel.

These new and upcoming productions provide the perfect opportunity to reexamine the many stories of ancient Rome that have graced our screens through the decades.

The most recent ten-episode Roman historical epic is based on Daniel P. Mannix鈥檚 1958 novel of the same name (and which听听the screenplay for Gladiator).

The series focuses on the power struggles in Imperial Rome at the time of the construction of the Flavian amphitheatre (the Colosseum) under the ailing emperor Vespasian (Anthony Hopkins) and his competing sons Titus (Tom Hughes) and Domitian (Jojo Macari).

The story is backdropped by corruption, represented by a cast of characters from lowly bookmakers through to the powerful families of the Senate who finance competing chariot-racing factions for popular support.

As viewers, we expect a degree of intrigue and corruption in Imperial Roman stories 鈥� something akin to 鈥�Succession in togas, or at least Suits in sandals鈥� as听听飞谤颈迟别蝉.

Those About To Die doesn鈥檛 fail to deliver on the drama. With a reputed budget of听, this lavish production is filled with spectacular chariot races and arena fights.

Its large cast, pacing and interweaving subplots are reminiscent of similar epics such as Game of Thrones. And despite relatively听听补苍诲听, the show has been green-lit for a second season.

For television producers, ancient Rome provides the perfect blank canvas: it can represent pagan; decadent and deviant; Christian and honourable; corrupt and overrun; or republican and just.

Hollywood鈥檚 fascination was already obvious in 20th-century film, particularly from the 1950s onwards, when studios began releasing sweeping historical epics to bring people back into cinemas as television had become the听听of entertainment.

Yet, in many ways, television proved to be a more natural fit for stories set in ancient Rome.

Many of the modern productions we know are based on just three bestselling 19th-century novels set in ancient Rome: Edward Bulwer-Lytton鈥檚 1834 novel The Last Days of Pompeii, Henryk Sienkiewicz鈥檚 1896 novel Quo Vadis, and Lew Wallace鈥檚 1880 novel Ben Hur.

Each novel is highly detailed, which is why series and miniseries adaptations 鈥� such as the 1984 miniseries听听and the 2010 series听听鈥� allow for better plot development compared with the various film adaptations.

In many ways, the BBC鈥檚 1976 show听听remains the gold standard of ancient Rome on television. Based on Robert Graves鈥� 1934 novel (which itself borrowed heavily from the ancient writers Suetonius and Tacitus) the show is delivered by a cast of British theatrical royalty.

Through Derek Jacobi鈥檚 BAFTA award-winning performance as Claudius, Sian Phillips as Livia, Brian Blessed as Augustus, Patrick Stewart as Sejanus and John Hurt as Caligula, the 12-episode series portrays the salacious lives and court intrigue of the Julio-Claudian family.

Despite being broadcast in 1976 to a largely negative reception, the show is today held in very high regard (voted among the best British series of all time by the听). And while it鈥檚 somewhat slow in its pacing by contemporary standards, this dramatic story of the Imperial family retains its power after multiple watches.

I, Claudius followed the similarly themed, although less sensationalist,听听(1968). This black-and-white series follows the domestic lives of the Julio-Claudian family from Augustus to Claudius, with each of the six episodes dedicated to a specific family member.

There has also been a surprising series of comedies set in the Roman world. BBC鈥檚听听(1969鈥�70) features comedian Frankie Howerd as the slave Lurcio, who delivers plenty of double-entendres and risqu茅 jokes.

HBO鈥檚 production听听(2007鈥�09) is now regarded as one of the series of 鈥渢he golden age of television鈥�.

Set in the 1st century BCE, as Rome transitioned from a republic to an empire, the series is seen through the eyes of two soldiers, Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson). Both men find their lives intertwined by key historical events and people including Brutus, Marc Antony and Julius Caesar.

Despite being beautifully shot, having high viewing figures and even Emmy wins, Rome was cancelled after two seasons due to its large budget demands. But it did prove there was a 21st-century audience for such stories.

One show that fully embraces the arena fight 鈥� one the most popular cliches of ancient Rome 鈥� is the 2010鈥�13 series听. It vividly tells the story of the historical gladiator Spartacus, who led the slave uprising in 73鈥�71 BCE. The various seasons present a frenzy of violence and graphic sex.

The more recent听听(2021鈥�23) focuses on the life of Livia Drusilla, the wife of Augustus. This series presents the power struggles of the Julio-Caudian world from a female perspective, as opposed to the male-centred world of previous tellings such as I, Claudius.

The lighthearted听听(2013鈥�23) once again mixes comedy with Roman history. With an anachronistic soundtrack of Jamaican ska music, this British series traces the misadventures of three young听听in Rome, as they 鈥渢ry to get laid, hold down jobs and climb the social ladder鈥�. This one will feel familiar to fans of听.

Even if none of the above strikes your fancy, I wouldn鈥檛 worry. If history is anything to go by, television producers will be returning to Rome time and again.

Craig Barker is Head of Public Engagement at the Chau Chak Wing Museum and has a PhD in classical archaeology from the University of Sydney. This story was first published on . Hero photo: Peacock.