Leaky Aqueducts, Battle Pigeons, and Mystery Cults: More Frequently Asked Questions About the Ancient Greeks and Romans

by Garrett Ryan

Could a Roman bridge carry a modern freight train? How much would it cost to build the Colosseum today? What if the Romans had grown potatoes?

In a series of fast-paced essays, Leaky Aqueducts, War Pigeons, and Mystery Cults answers 45 questions that ancient historian Garrett Ryan has been asked in the classroom and through his popular YouTube channel Toldinstone. As in the two previous books of this fun and fascinating series, the emphasis is on the surprising details of daily life in the classical world. 

Discover the answers  

• Were there pigeons on the streets of Rome? 

• Did the Colosseum cost more than St. Peter's Basilica? 

• What did gladiators do after they retired?

• How did the Egyptians forget hieroglyphs? 

• Could potatoes have saved the Roman Empire? 

Genres: Historical, Nonfiction

266 pages, Hardcover

Published June 16, 2026

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful as usual from this series.

[Seth Tomko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a great time reading this one.