When in Rome?

This episode of *The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong* explores the controversial theory that ancient Romans reached the Americas centuries before Columbus, using the discovery of Roman-style amphorae in Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay as a centerpiece. The story centers on Robert F. Marks, a flamboyant and self-proclaimed 'father of underwater archaeology,' who claimed to have uncovered evidence of Roman contact with South America. However, the episode meticulously dissects Marks’ credibility, revealing a pattern of exaggeration, self-aggrandizement, and questionable ethics. While Marks insisted the amphorae were proof of a lost Roman voyage, the truth turns out to be far more mundane: they were modern replicas created by Italian-Brazilian diver Americo Santorelli, who intentionally sank them in the bay to give them an aged appearance. The episode also examines broader myths of white Europeans being mistaken for gods by Indigenous peoples, showing how these stories often stem from misinterpretation, cultural bias, and European wishful thinking. From Viking settlements in Newfoundland to Polynesian contact with South America via the sweet potato, the episode weighs the evidence for pre-Columbian transoceanic contact, ultimately concluding that while some contact is plausible, most theories—especially those tied to white supremacy or hyperdiffusionism—are deeply flawed. The narrative underscores the importance of skepticism, source criticism, and the seductive danger of believing in grand, romanticized historical narratives. Key takeaways include: 1) Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence—especially when they involve ancient civilizations crossing oceans; 2) The Roman amphorae in Brazil were a hoax, not a discovery; 3) The idea that Indigenous peoples mistook Europeans for gods is largely a myth rooted in European misinterpretation and colonial bias; 4) While some pre-Columbian contact (like the Vikings) is well-supported, most others remain speculative or debunked; 5) The most dangerous historical myths are those that serve ideological agendas, especially racist ones; 6) Even well-intentioned archaeologists can be misled by their own biases and the allure of fame; 7) The story of the amphorae is a cautionary tale about how easily truth can be distorted by narrative desire; 8) The real lesson is not about who reached America first, but how we interpret the past—and why we must do so with humility and rigor.