Don’t Always Believe What You Read
Don’t believe everything you read. It’s important to approach information with a healthy dose of skepticism and always do your own research. Why? Because we’ve been misled before. In fact, here’s evidence of 22 myths you’ve probably heard. One of the biggest lies is that…
Napoleon Was A Short Man
Napoleon Bonaparte, the military genius who reshaped Europe, is often mocked for his stunt height. The British, his greatest foes, fueled this myth, calling him “The Little Corporal”. In reality, he stood around 5’7” (1.69m), average for his time. The confusion arose from a common difference. Which is...
Auguste Raffet (France, Paris, 1804-1860) on Wikimedia
Napoleon Was A Short Man (Cont.)
The difference in French and British measuring units. So, who debunked it? Historians analyzing his autopsy reports and records revealed the truth. British propaganda, fueled by satirical cartoons, cemented the image of a pint-sized leader. French sources listed him as 5’2” in French feet, roughly 5’7” today.
Jacques-Louis David on Wikimedia
Vikings Wore Horned Helmets
Vikings conjure images of ruthless warriors donning horned helmets, but archaeological evidence tells a different story. This misconception originates from 19th-century operas, particularly Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen custom of the character. No Viking burial site has ever unearthed a horned helmet; it’s just a stagecraft.
Vikings Wore Horned Helmets (Cont.)
Why does this myth persist? Romanticized artworks and Hollywood portrayals reinforced the stereotype. Scandinavian museums display real Viking helmets, all lacking horns. Scholars like Carl Emil Doepler, a costume designer, popularized the look in 1876. The reality? Vikings favored practicality in battle—horns would be a serious liability.
Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland on Wikimedia
The Great Wall Of China Is Visible From Space
The earliest reference dates back to 1754 when English antiquary William Stukeley wrote that the Great Wall “makes a considerable figure upon the terrestrial globe, and may be discerned at the Moon”. This idea was further popularized in the 20th century, mainly through Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (1932).
The Great Wall Of China Is Visible From Space (Cont.)
When China’s first astronaut, Yang Liwei, orbited Earth in 2003, he confirmed the wall wasn’t visible. What can be seen are cities, coastlines, water bodies, and major roadways—structures with bright lighting and high contrast. The legend survives because it feels poetic, but science leaves no room for wishful thinking.
Marie Antoinette Said, “Let Them Eat Cake”
Marie Antoinette has been unfairly vilified for a phrase she never uttered. The infamous line, Qu’ils mangent de la brioche, appeared in Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, written when she was just a child. It wasn’t her remark but a reflection of aristocratic ignorance, likely attributed to someone else entirely.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun on Wikimedia
Marie Antoinette Said “Let Them Eat Cake” (Cont.)
French revolutionaries needed a villain, and Marie fit the role. Later historians traced similar phrases to earlier royals, suggesting the insult was recycled. Despite historical evidence clearing her name, this myth persists. The real Marie? She championed charity, not cruelty, making her wrongful infamy one of history’s great injustices.
Joseph Kranzinger on Wikimedia
Columbus Discovered America
Every school textbook once proclaimed Christopher Columbus as the discoverer of America. The reality is that Native Americans had lived there for millennia, and Norse explorer Leif Erikson reached North America nearly 500 years before Columbus. His 1492 voyage did change history, but it wasn’t the first European presence.
L. Prang & Co., Boston on Wikimedia
Columbus Discovered America (Cont.)
Back then, European-centric narratives would typically sideline indigenous history. Erikson’s story, recorded in sagas, gained recognition in the 20th century when archaeologists uncovered Norse settlements in Newfoundland. Columbus did make lasting connections between continents, but as for “discovery”? That credit belongs to those who were already there.
Sebastiano del Piombo on Wikimedia
Isaac Newton "Discovered" Gravity Because Of An Apple
The story goes on to explain how Isaac Newton sat under an apple tree when a falling fruit sparked his theory of gravity. While he did ponder gravity’s force, no dramatic apple-to-head moment ever happened. The tale stems from Newton’s accounts, later exaggerated by biographer William Stukeley in 1752.
Isaac Newton "Discovered" Gravity Because Of An Apple (Cont.)
Newton himself never claimed an apple conked him into genius. His writings merely mention observing falling apples, leading him to question why objects move downward. Over time, storytellers added flair, simplifying scientific breakthroughs into digestible folklore. The real Newton was a meticulous thinker who spent years refining his gravitational theories.
People In The Middle Ages Considered The Earth Was Flat
Contrary to popular belief, educated medieval Europeans knew the Earth was round. Ancient Greek scholars like Pythagoras and Aristotle had already established this. The flat Earth myth gained traction in the 19th century, largely due to American author Washington Irving’s fictionalized biography of Columbus.
Towarzysz Przewodniczący on Wikimedia
People In The Middle Ages Considered The Earth Was Flat (Cont.)
Medieval scholars referenced celestial bodies and navigation techniques proving Earth’s curvature. Yet Irving’s 1828 book A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus wrongly suggested Columbus battled a flat-Earth-believing clergy. This catchy but false narrative stuck, and it proves how historical inaccuracies can outlive the facts themselves.
Witches Were Torched At The Stake In Salem
Hollywood loves to depict witches burning in Salem, but in reality, none of the accused were burned. Nineteen people were hanged, but one, Giles Corey, was pressed to death with stones. The confusion likely arises because European witch trials often involved burning at the stake.
Joseph E., ca. 1837-1914, artist. on Wikimedia
Witches Were Torched At The Stake In Salem (Cont.)
Why the discrepancy? European trials, like those in Germany and Scotland, favored burning, whereas Puritan Massachusetts followed English law, which dictated hanging for witchcraft. The Salem trials remain infamous, but their execution methods have been misrepresented.
Einstein Failed Math In School
“If Einstein failed math, then there’s hope for everyone”—a comforting but false statement. Einstein debunked it, claiming, “Before I was fifteen, I had mastered differential and integral calculus”. Records confirm he excelled in math and physics, even passing entrance exams to the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School at 16.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
Einstein Failed Math In School (Cont.)
So, where did this myth come from? It is likely a misinterpretation of his struggles with French in his early schooling. By adulthood, Einstein was solving complex equations that baffle even experts today. The takeaway is that great minds face obstacles, but failing math wasn’t one of Einstein’s.
Ferdinand Schmutzer on Wikimedia
George Washington Had Wooden Teeth
Imagine wood in your mouth; is that even feasible? George Washington’s dental issues were real, but his teeth weren’t wooden. His dentures contained human, cow, horse, hippopotamus ivory, gold, lead, and brass. The wooden speculation likely comes from stained ivory, which gives it a brownish appearance.
George Washington Had Wooden Teeth (Cont.)
Mount Vernon’s records confirm Washington’s dentures were sourced from both extracted teeth and artificial replacements. Some of these came from enslaved people, a darker truth omitted in early retellings. The wooden claim persists due to artistic depictions, yet the real story reveals a complex, uncomfortable history behind early dentistry.
Medieval Knights Had To Be Lifted Onto Horses
Hollywood loves the image of knights struggling under their armor, barely able to mount a horse without assistance. But reality paints a different picture. Medieval armor, even the heaviest plate mail, weighed about 50-70 pounds, similar to a modern soldier’s gear.
Medieval Knights Had To Be Lifted Onto Horses (Cont.)
This folklore gained traction from exaggerated Victorian reenactments and misinterpreted museum displays. Books like A Knight and His Armor by Ewart Oakeshott and modern demonstrations prove knights could vault onto horses unassisted. Historical records even describe knights running, climbing, and performing acrobatics in full armor. The myth is debunked, finally.
Van Gogh Cut Off His Entire Ear
A tragic artist with a severed ear is a shocking image, but it’s only partly true. Gogh sliced off just a portion of his left ear, not the whole thing. According to the Van Gogh Museum, he wrapped it and gave it to a woman at a brothel.
Van Gogh Cut Off His Entire Ear (Cont.)
The myth likely spread due to sensationalized accounts and dramatic retellings. His friend Paul Gauguin’s conflicting recollections, along with unreliable newspaper reports, boosted the exaggeration. Modern forensic studies of Van Gogh’s self-portraits and letters confirm the injury was severe but not as gruesome as commonly believed.
Chastity Belts Were Used In Medieval Times
Tales of medieval women locked in chastity belts by jealous husbands make for gripping stories, but they’re pure fiction. The British Museum and historians confirm chastity belts were a 19th-century fabrication, likely as satire. Most surviving belts were theatrical props or anti-onanism devices from the prudish Victorian era.
Southdevonplayers on Wikimedia
Chastity Belts Were Used In Medieval Times (Cont.)
The myth gained traction due to misinterpretations of medieval art and fraudulent museum exhibits. Albrecht Classen’s The Ancestry of Chastity Belts debunks this falsehood, revealing that no credible medieval records mention their actual use. Scholars now agree they were likely Victorian-era moral warnings rather than historical artifacts.
The Trojan Horse Was A Real Wooden Horse
If you’ve heard this, raise your hand. The image of Greek soldiers hiding inside a giant wooden horse to infiltrate Troy is iconic. However, many historians believe the Trojan Horse never physically existed. Ancient texts, like Virgil’s Aeneid, likely used it as a metaphor for a clever Greek deception—possibly referring to siege engines or bribed traitors.
Trojan Horse Scene | TROY (2004) Brad Pitt, Movie CLIP HD by JoBlo Movie Clips
The Trojan Horse Was A Real Wooden Horse (Cont.)
When excavations happened, there was no evidence of such a structure. Or any of its kind. Archaeologists theorize the “horse” could symbolize a war tactic rather than a literal object. Studies in Archaeology magazine suggest Homer’s tale was an allegory that illustrated cunning military strategy rather than an actual wooden beast.
The Declaration Of Independence Was Finalized On July 4, 1776
Every July 4, almost all Americans don the flag’s colors to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but the document wasn’t actually signed that day. While it was approved on July 4, most signatures weren’t added until August 2, 1776. Guess what proves this?
The Declaration Of Independence Was Finalized On July 4, 1776 (Cont.)
The National Archives confirms this delay was due to the need for an official copy. Nonetheless, paintings like John Trumbull’s famous “Declaration of Independence” reinforced the misconception. The story persists due to patriotic narratives, but primary sources, including letters from Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, confirm the document’s signing timeline.
Thomas Jefferson, Wikimedia Commons
Albert Einstein Invented The Theory Of Relativity Alone
Einstein revolutionized physics, but as the saying goes, no man is an island. He wasn’t the sole mind behind relativity: It was built on ideas from Henri Poincare, Hendrik Lorentz, and James Maxwell. Scientific American notes that while Einstein unified these concepts into the famous E=mc2 equation.
Albert Einstein Invented The Theory Of Relativity Alone (Cont.)
Einstein even acknowledged their contributions in his writings. Lorentz’s transformations and Poincare’s work on space-time symmetry laid vital groundwork. Some even argue that Poincare was closer to formulating relativity first. However, Einstein’s 1905 paper presented a more complete theory, earning him recognition.
Unknown photographer on Wikimedia
Walt Disney Drew Mickey Mouse Solo
This is a case of someone winning by hiring the right people for the job. Walt Disney’s legacy is tied to Mickey Mouse, which we cannot dispute. But he didn’t create the famous character alone. Animator Ub Iwerks, Disney’s longtime collaborator, drew Mickey’s first design in 1928.
Walt Disney / Ub Iwerks on Wikimedia
Walt Disney Drew Mickey Mouse Solo (Cont.)
The Disney Archives confirm that while Disney provided the vision and voice, Iwerks was the artistic genius behind the mouse. Old footage shows Iwerks effortlessly sketching Mickey in seconds. Disney’s role was more about storytelling and marketing, ensuring Mickey became the icon he is today.
not listed. New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection on Wikimedia
The Emancipation Proclamation Freed All Slaves
Sure, Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people, but not all of them. The order, issued in 1863, only applied to Confederate states, where the Union had little control. It didn’t affect slavery in border states like Kentucky and Maryland, which remained unchanged. Slavery went on in such states.
Engraving by W. Roberts. on Wikimedia
The Emancipation Proclamation Freed All Slaves (Cont.)
Historians, including those at the National Archives, highlight that slavery wasn’t abolished nationwide until the 13th Amendment in 1865. The proclamation was a powerful moral statement, but its immediate impact was limited. Nonetheless, it reshaped the Civil War’s purpose, and it turned it into a fight for freedom.
United States. President; Richardson, James D. (James Daniel), 1843-1914, comp on Wikimedia
Slaves Built Egyptian Pyramids
Forget Hollywood’s depictions of whip-cracking overseers. Archaeological evidence shows that Egypt’s pyramids were built by paid workers, not slaves. Tombs found near the pyramids contain remains of well-fed laborers, not mistreated slaves. The Smithsonian confirms that these builders were highly skilled craftsmen who took pride in their job.
Slaves Built Egyptian Pyramids (Cont.)
The story of slave-built pyramids originated from Greek historians like Herodotus, who misunderstood Egyptian labor practices. Excavations by archaeologist Mark Lehner reveal housing sites with bread ovens and cattle bones, proving workers lived comfortably. The pyramids also stand as monuments to organization and engineering, not forced labor.
Nero Played The Fiddle While Rome Burned
Blaming an emperor for a city’s destruction makes a compelling story, but it turns out it isn’t accurate. In 64 AD, a massive fire consumed Rome, and rumors spread that Nero watched indifferently, playing a fiddle. However, this story had holes. One, fiddles didn’t exist until the 11th century.
National Printing & Engraving Company (U.S.); Kleine, George.; Cines (Firm). on Wikimedia
Nero Played The Fiddle While Rome Burned (Cont.)
Two, Nero actually played lyre or cithara. Third, When the Great Fire of Rome occurred in 64 AD, Nero was not in Rome. He was at his villa in Antium, about 60 km south of Rome. He returned to Rome to coordinate relief efforts, even opening his gardens as shelters.
The Alamo Defenders Fought To The Last Man
The battle of the Alamo in 1836 is legendary, but the “no survivors” tale is misleading, making it a half-myth. Most defenders fought to the bitter end, but some surrendered. According to Mexican records and historians like Dr James Crisp, Santa Anna ordered captives executed, contradicting the heroic Hollywood portrayal.
Zygmunt Put Zetpe0202 on Wikimedia
The Alamo Defenders Fought To The Last Man (Cont.)
Early accounts, particularly those by Texan leaders, exaggerated the story to inspire revolutionaries. John Wayne’s The Alamo (1960) and countless books fueled this folklore. However, eyewitness reports from Mexican soldiers and Susanna Dickinson, a battle survivor, reveal the truth—some fighters laid down arms only to be brutally executed afterward.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
Humans Only Use 10% Of Their Brain
This myth refuses to die despite science repeatedly proving it wrong. The idea that humans use just 10% of their brains likely stems from misinterpretations of early neurological research. William James, a psychologist, suggested that people don’t reach their full potential, but he never meant that brain activity was limited.
Sarah Choate Sears (1858-1935) on Wikimedia
Humans Only Use 10% Of Their Brain (Cont.)
Brain scans using fMRI technology show constant activity throughout the brain, even during rest. Scientists like Barry Beyerstein debunked this lie: Every region serves a function. Pop culture, from Lucy (2014) to self-help books, keeps it alive, but the truth is clear—your brain is always fully operational.
