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There’s still so much about history that remains elusive. From the life of Thomas Kyd to the mysterious Olmec civilization, numerous events have shaped the course of the world, many of which were never recorded.
Then, there are those events that we think we know all about, but we could very well be mistaken. These theories might not be definitively accurate, but they all suggest that we might have misunderstood our past entirely.
10. Was The Library Of Alexandria Destroyed By Budget Cuts?
The demise of the Library at Alexandria stands as a potent symbol for the victory of barbarism over civilization. Once the greatest repository of knowledge in the ancient world, the library was reportedly set ablaze by Julius Caesar in 48 B.C. However, some argue that it met its end at the hands of Caliph Umar in A.D. 640, though this theory is widely considered less plausible. Both versions suggest that the library was indeed burned. But was it truly?
While the Library undoubtedly faced significant damage over time, another theory posits that its destruction was due to budget cuts. The idea suggests that the famed '40,000 lost scrolls' were actually kept in a separate warehouse, which was destroyed in a fire set by the emperor.
The true downfall of the Library occurred when Marcus Aurelius Antoninus suspended its funding in the second century and expelled all foreign scholars. Meanwhile, its invaluable Greek manuscripts were sent to distant centers of learning, replaced by duller works that reflected the religious values of the era.
With few scholars remaining to read the scrolls, and with little of interest to read anyway, the Library fell into disrepair and eventually faded away entirely.
9. Machu Picchu - Just Some Weekend Getaway?
Machu Picchu is undoubtedly South America's most iconic landmark. Every year, millions of tourists make the journey to the ancient Incan ruins, high in the Andes. Yet, it’s quite possible that all they are really seeing is just the hunting lodge of a wealthy individual.
When the American historian Hiram Bingham first discovered Machu Picchu in 1911, National Geographic published an expansive article about the legendary 'lost city.' The discovery stirred the public's imagination, and the name 'lost city' became widely adopted. Many believed that Machu Picchu had once been a bustling metropolis. However, later investigations revealed that the site was much smaller than the label suggested, with perhaps no more than 750 inhabitants—too few to be considered a city by most standards.
There are several theories about Machu Picchu, but the most intriguing one suggests that it was built as a weekend retreat for the ruler Pachacuti. If this theory is correct, Machu Picchu would have served as the ancient equivalent of a Wall Street CEO’s luxurious Florida getaway.
8. The Ancient Greeks Drank Blue Wine?
The Ancient Greeks were so fond of wine that they even had a god for it—Dionysus, the embodiment of carefree indulgence. He is often portrayed as the quintessential member of the pantheon, celebrated in art and cartoons as the ultimate figure of ancient enjoyment. However, our typical depictions of him may not be entirely accurate. The truth is, the wine he served might have actually been a deep blue.
This theory arises from a curious discrepancy in the works of Homer. In both the Iliad and Odyssey, Homer repeatedly mentions the phrase 'wine-dark sea,' an image that doesn’t align with our understanding of the ocean. Scholars and scientists have spent years trying to reconcile Homer’s description with reality, proposing theories ranging from the Greeks suffering widespread color blindness to red algae outbreaks along the coastline. However, one hypothesis suggests that it wasn't the ocean or the Greeks that were unusual—it was the wine itself.
The Greeks rarely consumed wine in its pure form, preferring to dilute it with about seven parts water. In Peloponnesus, where many of these epic tales unfold, the local water is highly alkaline due to the region’s limestone-rich soil. This alkaline water, when mixed with wine, could have turned it blue—a phenomenon that might have inspired Homer’s descriptions.
7. The Romans Only Rarely Wore Togas?
When we think of Roman attire (along with their iconic feathered helmets), the toga often comes to mind. In almost every film or TV show set during the Roman Republic, the characters are seen wearing flowing robes, often with their lower bodies perilously exposed to the elements. However, there’s a theory suggesting that our obsession with togas might be exaggerated.
Although the toga was a symbol of Roman citizenship (a privilege denied to slaves, for example), it was also a highly formal garment. Some scholars believe that togas were actually worn only on special occasions, eventually becoming the exclusive attire of senators. According to this view, the idea that most freeborn Romans wore togas is as misguided as assuming that 21st-century Americans constantly wear white tuxedos.
6. Troy Destroyed By An Earthquake?
Troy is renowned for its connection to the Trojan War, a legendary conflict that ended with the city's ruin at the hands of the Greeks. This tale has endured from ancient times, carrying on in popular culture. Yet, an alternative theory suggests that Troy's downfall was caused by something completely different: an earthquake.
In the late 1800s, archaeologists began digging at the modern location of Troy, unearthing a set of surprising and perplexing findings. Rather than revealing a single city, they discovered that Troy had been made up of seven different cities, each destroyed in turn. Out of these, only one, known as "Troy 6," aligned with the city depicted in the Iliad. Evidence points to this particular city having been destroyed by an earthquake.
It’s possible that Homer fabricated the conclusion of the Iliad to provide a dramatic ending to his epic. Perhaps the actual Troy of the conflict was the smaller Tiny Troy 7, which Homer blended with the grander Troy 6 to create a more magnificent narrative. It’s even possible that the Greeks weren't involved in the sack of Troy at all, and instead, it was the Sea Peoples who caused its destruction. Regardless of the truth, it's very likely that our modern understanding of Troy is flawed.
5. The Hanging Gardens: Were They Completely Fabricated?
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the most perplexing of all ancient wonders. Unlike the other wonders, we have little to no evidence to confirm the existence of such an awe-inspiring structure in Babylon. This has led some historians to suggest that the Gardens were actually an Assyrian creation, mistakenly attributed to Babylon. There are even some who argue that the Gardens may never have existed at all.
The only sources we have about the Gardens come from five ancient writers, none of whom have definitive proof of having visited Babylon. In fact, it seems most of their information was gathered from secondary or even tertiary sources. The theory suggests that tales of different Mesopotamian gardens were combined and exaggerated over time, ultimately leading to the myth of a grand 'super-garden.'
4. Did Early Christians Face Persecution?
Nero is infamously remembered for setting Christians on fire to illuminate the streets, while many emperors sent them to their deaths in the arena. Life for Christians in ancient Rome was undeniably dangerous.
But was it really? Some scholars argue that the stories of Christian persecution may have been fabricated altogether.
The six accounts we have, supposedly authentic, of early martyrs like Polycarp, are riddled with anachronisms and contradict much of what we know about Roman society. For example, Diocletian’s anti-Christian decrees—widely regarded as the only true persecution of the early Church—merely involved removing Christians from public office. This would imply they had been held in enough esteem to occupy such positions in the first place.
At that time, anyone could be executed for even the smallest offenses. The reason we remember the Christian martyrs is that the Church preserved their stories. Meanwhile, the countless non-Christians who faced the same brutal fate have been largely forgotten.
3. Was the First Temple Never Constructed?
Around 3,000 years ago, King Solomon is said to have built one of the most remarkable temples in history. The First Temple soared to 20 stories high, constructed with vast amounts of cedar wood, hewn stone, and immense labor. It was likely the most impressive structure in the Middle East until the Babylonians destroyed it in 586 B.C. Today, the location of the First and Second Temples is considered one of the most sacred spots on Earth. Yet, some argue that the Temple may never have existed.
There is no physical evidence to support the existence of the First Temple. Apart from the Old Testament, no ancient texts mention it. Furthermore, excavation efforts are practically impossible, as searching for its remains would require dismantling two of the holiest sites in both Islam and Judaism. This lack of concrete proof has led some to speculate that the Temple might have been located elsewhere—or perhaps was entirely invented.
This subject is highly controversial. The denial of the Temple’s existence has been compared to Holocaust denial, and some may use it as a means to challenge Jewish claims to Jerusalem.
2. Was Noah's Ark Circular?
The tale of Noah’s Ark appears in various forms across numerous ancient cultures. While there’s no solid evidence supporting the truth of the story, Noah and his ark have appeared in countless books, cartoons, and films. Nearly all of these portrayals likely differ from how the original writers envisioned the ark.
Although most people associate the ark with the Bible, the earliest known description of it comes from an ancient cuneiform tablet in the British Museum. This tablet not only tells of a Mesopotamian god instructing a human to build a boat to survive a catastrophic flood, but it also includes the idea of animals entering 'two by two.' Furthermore, it specifies that the ark be circular in shape.
According to translator Irving Finkel, a round ark would have been entirely logical given the time period. People commonly traveled across rivers in circular coracles. Finkel believes this story was passed down to Jewish exiles in the sixth century B.C. and eventually became incorporated into the Torah.
1. Did the Aztecs Only Rarely Perform Human Sacrifice?
The practice of Aztec sacrifice is almost unimaginable. Victims had their hearts removed, were decapitated, and sometimes even skinned alive. In some rituals, thousands of people were slaughtered at once. Children were even part of the ritualized killings. This is the widely accepted view, but there’s an alternative theory suggesting that the Aztecs weren’t nearly as brutal as they’re often depicted.
While no one disputes that the Aztecs carried out human sacrifice, some historians argue that the number of victims has been greatly exaggerated. They contend that the Aztecs weren’t any more inclined to ritual killing than other cultures like the Andeans, Egyptians, Japanese, or even the Greeks, groups that aren’t typically associated with such practices. This theory posits that Spanish colonists inflated these numbers to divert attention from their own atrocities.
Most archaeological evidence seems to contradict this theory, supporting the traditional view of Aztec brutality. However, the evidence is not entirely conclusive, leaving open the possibility that our image of the Aztecs may be far worse than reality.
