Fake News in Ancient Rome: Propaganda Creation and Interpretation Attemps

The relevance of the research. In modern times, we encounter fakes in the information space, especially in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war. In order to better understand the specifics and features of conducting propaganda through the dissemination of fake news, we turned to antiquity, specifically Ancient Rome. It was in this state, perhaps more than any other in the ancient world, that a wide range of various fake inserts emerged — from spreading rumors in society to distorting facts in official documents and their falsification. The purpose of the article is to analyze the reasons for the emergence and spread of fakes in Ancient Rome, as well as to investigate their impact on Roman society. Also, the task of our research is to characterize some manifestations of fake information, which were used by ancient Roman high-ranking officials to achieve their own goals (preserving power, defaming a competitor, manipulating consciousness, etc.). The methodology. Of the research methods, we used the method of classification (“image fake”, “historical fake”) and terminological analysis (the terms “propaganda”, “fake”). Results. It is determined that during the Late Republic and Early Empire, ruling individuals and officials used informational inserts to maintain power and discredit their enemies. A number of sources have been analyzed to reveal the reasons and methods of creating and disseminating false information — not only in the political life but also in the social and religious life. Scientific novelty. For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the reasons for the emergence and dissemination of fake information in Ancient Rome has been carried out, as well as its impact and consequences on Roman society, particularly for propagandistic purposes. Practical significance. The research popularizes the issue of information policy in Ancient Rome and is also an important contribution to further research on the impact of propaganda and informational inserts on Roman society. Conclusion. It has been proven that information, depending on its presentation, can significantly influence society, shaping attitudes — forming opinions about certain individuals or groups of people or attitudes directed towards a particular political or social direction. Various manifestations of informational inserts and propaganda have also been studied — both collective (ancient Roman society) and those emanating from an individual or state body (the Senate, emperor).