Throughout human history, myths and legends have captured the imagination and shaped our understanding of the past. Some of these stories have become so ingrained in popular culture that they are often accepted as historical fact. However, many of our most cherished tales turn out to have little basis in reality. In this article, we will examine 20 pervasive myths from history – exploring their origins, their impact, and the true stories that lie behind them.
1. Napoleon Bonaparte‘s Supposed Shortness
One of the most famous historical myths is the idea that Napoleon Bonaparte was an exceptionally short man. This belief has become so widespread that the term "Napoleon complex" is now used to describe men who overcompensate for their short stature with aggressive behavior. However, the real Napoleon was far from diminutive.
According to historian Robert Wilde, "Napoleon was 5 feet 6 inches tall, which was slightly above average for a Frenchman of the time." The confusion may stem from differences between French and British units of measurement, as well as Napoleon‘s tendency to surround himself with tall bodyguards, which made him appear shorter by comparison.
The myth of Napoleon‘s height likely originated as a way for the British to mock and diminish their greatest rival. As historian Andrea Stuart notes, "The idea of a pint-sized Napoleon was a useful propaganda tool for the British, who were keen to undermine the French emperor‘s reputation."
2. The Horned Helmets of the Vikings
When most people picture a Viking warrior, they imagine a fierce, bearded man wearing a helmet with horns or wings protruding from the sides. This iconic image has been reproduced countless times in films, TV shows, comic books and sports team logos. However, there is one major problem with this depiction – there is no historical evidence that Vikings ever wore such fanciful headgear.
Archaeologists have uncovered numerous Viking helmets over the years, but none have featured horns. In fact, such an impractical design would have been a hindrance in battle, providing an easy handhold for opponents to grab onto. So where did this persistent myth come from?
The origin can be traced back to costume designer Carl Emil Doepler, who created horned helmets for an 1876 production of Richard Wagner‘s opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen. Doepler‘s dramatic designs were inspired by Nordic mythology and captured the public imagination. Subsequent depictions of Vikings in popular media drew heavily on these eye-catching costumes, and the image stuck.
3. Captain Cook‘s "Discovery" of Australia
For many years, British explorer Captain James Cook was credited with being the first European to discover Australia. While it‘s true that Cook was the first to map the continent‘s eastern coastline and claim it for the British Crown, he was far from the first European to set foot on Australian shores.
The true "discoverer" of Australia was Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon, who made landfall in northern Australia in 1606 – a full 164 years before Cook‘s famous voyage. Over the following decades, numerous other Dutch explorers like Dirk Hartog and Abel Tasman charted parts of Australia‘s western and southern coasts, which were then known as "New Holland."
Cook‘s 1770 expedition along the East Coast was significant because it led to Britain‘s colonization of Australia, beginning with the establishment of a penal colony at Botany Bay in 1788. However, the myth of Cook as the sole discoverer of the continent overlooks the contributions of earlier Dutch and Portuguese explorers.
4. Shah Jahan‘s Cruel Punishment of the Taj Mahal‘s Architects
One enduring myth about the Taj Mahal, the magnificent mausoleum built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, is that upon its completion Shah Jahan ordered the hands of the chief architect and his workers to be cut off so they could never build anything as beautiful again. This grim tale has been repeated in countless travel guides and history books, but there is no credible evidence to support it.
In reality, the Taj Mahal was not the work of a single master builder, but a collaborative effort involving thousands of craftsmen, artisans, and laborers working over a period of more than 20 years. Many of these skilled workers went on to work on other monuments after the Taj Mahal‘s completion.
Art historian Wayne Begley argues that the amputation story is likely a myth that emerged from Orientalist stereotypes about "Eastern despotism" and the "barbarism" of the Mughals. "The building of the Taj Mahal was a huge undertaking that required a great deal of planning, organization, and teamwork," Begley writes. "The idea that Shah Jahan would have mutilated the very people who made it possible is not only implausible but goes against everything we know about Mughal building practices."
5. The "War of the Worlds" Mass Panic
On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles‘ radio adaptation of H.G. Wells‘ science fiction novel The War of the Worlds was broadcast on CBS, narrated in the style of breaking news bulletins about a Martian invasion of Earth. According to popular legend, the realistic format fooled thousands of listeners into believing a real alien attack was taking place, leading to mass hysteria and even isolated incidents of suicide and heart attacks.
However, the extent of the supposed panic was heavily exaggerated by newspapers at the time. While some listeners did call police or radio stations seeking confirmation of the invasion, the number of individuals genuinely alarmed was relatively small. A study by media historians Jefferson Pooley and Michael Socolow found that "fewer than one in a hundred respondents who had heard the broadcast had actually thought it was true."
So why has the myth of the War of the Worlds panic persisted? Pooley and Socolow argue that the sensationalized press coverage was driven by a desire to discredit radio as a competitor to newspapers. "The newspapers seized the opportunity presented by Welles‘ program to discredit radio as a source of news," they write. "The story of panicked listeners was too good not to be true."
Other historical myths that have been debunked by scholars include:
- The Flat Earth Theory: Contrary to popular belief, most educated people in the Middle Ages did not think the Earth was flat. This myth originated in the 19th century.
- Lady Godiva‘s Nude Ride: There is no contemporaneous evidence that the 11th-century noblewoman rode naked through the streets of Coventry to protest her husband‘s high taxes. The story only appears centuries later.
- The Piltdown Man Hoax: In 1912, amateur archaeologist Charles Dawson claimed to have discovered the "missing link" between apes and humans. The Piltdown Man fossils were later revealed to be a forgery combining a human skull with an orangutan‘s jaw.
- The Donation of Constantine: This document, purportedly written by Emperor Constantine I, granted authority over Rome and the western part of the empire to Pope Sylvester I. It was exposed as a fake in the 15th century.
- The Destruction of the Library of Alexandria: The famous library is often said to have been destroyed in a single catastrophic fire, but in reality it declined gradually over centuries due to neglect, budget cuts, and a series of smaller fires.
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| Napoleon was very short | He was 5‘6", above average for the time |
| Vikings had horned helmets | No historical evidence, originated from a 19th century opera costume |
| Captain Cook discovered Australia | Dutch explorers like Willem Janszoon landed there 164 years before Cook |
| Shah Jahan mutilated the Taj Mahal‘s architects | The Taj Mahal took 20 years and 20,000 workers to build, no evidence anyone was punished |
| The War of the Worlds radio play caused mass panic | Extent of panic exaggerated by newspapers, very few actually fooled |
So why do historical myths persist even in the face of contradictory evidence? Folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand argues that legends "are folk history that people want to believe, either because the stories sound plausible or because they fit preconceived ideas about the world." They can serve to entertain, inspire national or cultural pride, or convey supposed moral lessons.
However, as historian and writer William Gurstelle points out, "the problem with myths is that they can prevent us from seeing what really happened and why." By obscuring the complexities of the past, myths can perpetuate stereotypes, oversimplify events, and lead us to false conclusions about historical figures and societies.
This is why it is vital to approach history with a critical eye, to seek out reliable sources, and to be willing to question long-held assumptions. As Gurstelle writes, "History should be based on fact, not fancy; on evidence rather than legend… When incorrect ‘facts‘ become accepted truth, myths attain the status of history, and misinformation reigns supreme."
Only by diligently separating fact from fiction can we hope to gain a clearer and more nuanced understanding of the people, events, and forces that have shaped our world. The real stories are often messier and less clear-cut than the myths we cling to, but they have the power to teach us invaluable lessons about the past – and about ourselves.
