Sex, Blood and More Sex: The 12 Sexiest Stills from Showtime's Papal History Lesson

If you don't remember anything from your European history class, Showtime is introducing a new drama series that will surely sear a few lessons into your brain for years to come. Because unlike your 10th grade teacher, the premium cable network -- and Oscar-winning director Neil Jordan (The Crying Game) -- know what it takes for any good lesson on corrupt popes to stick: sex and blood. And lots of it.

Seriously, in the preview released today -- which stars Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons as Rodrigo Borgia, the cunning pope who, in the late 1400's, allegedly committed adultery, incest, rape, theft and murder -- the pope administers oral sex to a mistress, necks are slit, more people have sex, blood is poured over topless women, even more people have sex and someone discovers a bloody, topless female corpse. The most scandalous stills (and the full preview) below.