Darius portrayed himself as an agent of cosmic truth and order ('Arta'). He branded enemies not just as political opponents but as agents of a universal lie ('Drauga'), turning rebellion into a moral and religious crime that demanded punishment and legitimized his rule.

Political expression in late Republican Rome was incredibly direct. Supporters of a candidate like Marius would engage in graffiti and even urinate on the statues of his opponents as a literal and symbolic show of contempt, forming a key part of their grassroots campaign tactics.

The Romans often propagandized the concept of 'Punica Fides' or 'Punic Faith' to portray Carthaginians as uniquely treacherous. Yet, their greatest general, Scipio, used blatant deception by feigning peace negotiations with Sifax and Hasdrubal specifically to learn the layout of their camps before burning them down, highlighting the hypocrisy of wartime rhetoric.

Scipio learned that a lagoon protecting New Carthage periodically became shallow. He timed his attack for this moment, presenting the ebbing water to his troops as a miracle promised by the god Neptune. This divine framing inspired his men and enabled a surprise attack on an unguarded wall.

Upstart Italian rulers, lacking noble lineage, adopted Roman art, architecture, and scholarship as propaganda. This created an aura of classical greatness and stability, making them seem like legitimate successors to the Caesars rather than mere tyrants who had seized power through a coup.

Facing widespread rebellions after a questionable rise to power, Darius used extreme, performative cruelty. The systematic mutilation and mass impalement of rebels were not random acts of rage but calculated displays of terror designed to crush dissent and establish his authority as absolute and unchallengeable.

The victory at Marathon, framed as a triumph of liberty, ironically propelled Athens to become an imperial power. They used their newfound military dominance to extract tribute from other Greek cities, funding projects like the Parthenon through the subjugation of their supposed allies.

Early in his career, Julius Caesar built his anti-establishment brand by prosecuting corrupt governors. While he often lost these high-profile cases, the publicity stunts successfully positioned him as a champion of justice and an opponent of the entrenched oligarchy, winning him crucial popular support.

To build support for a war of annihilation, the influential Roman senator Cato ended every single speech, regardless of topic, with the phrase "Carthage must be destroyed." This relentless repetition created a political "drumbeat of war" that normalized a radical policy and fostered public support.