Who was Odysseus, and was he a real person? Explore the history behind The Odyssey, from Homer and the Trojan War to Christopher Nolan’s latest adaptation.

How historically accurate is Troy (2004)? We explore the characters, locations and Bronze Age life to see where the film gets history right—and where Hollywood takes over.

Did Avril Lavigne really get replaced by a clone called Melissa? Explore the origins of one of the internet’s biggest celebrity conspiracy theories.

How historically accurate is Hairspray? Discover the real history behind the musical, from segregated television in 1960s Baltimore to the Civil Rights Movement and the true story that inspired the…

Discover how historically accurate The Da Vinci Code really is. From Mary Magdalene and the Knights Templar to Leonardo da Vinci and the Priory of Sion, we separate historical fact…

Think The Magicians feels suspiciously like Narnia? You’re not imagining it. From Fillory and magical portals to the Chatwins and Christopher Plover, here’s every major parallel—and why Lev Grossman has…

From the handover ceremony and Versailles etiquette to Axel von Fersen, the Queen’s Hamlet, and the famous balcony scene, discover what Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette got right—and where it took…

From Friar Tuck’s alms box to the beggars and prisoners of Nottingham, Disney’s Robin Hood contains surprising lessons about medieval charity, poverty, and the origins of poor relief.

Was Heroes really about superpowers? A closer look at Peter, Claire, Hiro, Sylar, Matt and the rest reveals a fascinating allegory about humanity itself.