URB: Lesson - Decimus - Fact or Fiction

The image shows a Roman man under a columned arch. The Latin reads: Ave et Vale, Decime!Decimus: Fact or Fiction

Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in the past. Decimus's story is an example of historical fiction. Although some characters are based on actual people, the intent of the story is to provide the reader with a context for learning more about the Latin language and the social customs of ancient Rome.

Historical fiction has a long tradition dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. Perhaps you are wondering what was historically accurate in Decimus's story.

Click on each character's name below to learn whether they were real or not and, if they were real, how accurate the depiction of their character was. You can also download the handout: Decimus: Fact or Fiction Links to an external site. which contains the same information.