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Is it fact or fiction? Who can say?
But now you know. History isn’t a perfect science, and we, as humans, are far from flawless. We make errors, exaggerate, or even fabricate stories, and these small changes to the truth can have monumental impacts—such as millions of people venerating someone for something that never took place, or despising someone for a fictional event.
Below are ten historical myths that are far from the reality we’ve been led to believe.
10. William Tell Never Actually Shot an Arrow at an Apple on His Son’s Head
In Switzerland, children are taught about William Tell, the legendary hero who stood up to the invading Hapsburgs by refusing to bow his head in front of a Hapsburg hat. As a consequence of his defiance, Tell, a simple farmer, was forced to shoot an apple off his son’s head, under the threat of death for both.
Though Tell succeeded in this remarkable feat and was said to have sparked the Swiss rebellion against the Austrian monarchy, historians now argue there is no proof that Tell ever existed. It’s likely he was simply a mythical figure, not a real person. Nevertheless, Switzerland continues to honor him as a symbol of independence, and the idea of his existence remains unquestioned.
9. Thomas Edison Did Not Invent the Lightbulb
Throughout the late 1800s, inventors were constantly battling for recognition. As one innovator unveiled a new invention, another would quickly enhance it and claim it as his own.
This is essentially the story behind the lightbulb. While we commonly associate it with Thomas Edison, the first true version was actually developed by British chemist Humphry Davy in 1802. Many others followed in his footsteps, refining the invention throughout the century. Edison wasn’t even the first to create the modern incandescent bulb; over 20 other inventors can make that claim. However, Edison was the first to make it commercially viable and widely adopted.
That’s the way the game is played.
8. Paul Revere Did Not Yell: “The British Are Coming!”
Paul Revere is often celebrated as a patriotic American hero. Legend has it that during the American Revolution, Revere learned that the British were planning to attack the town of Concord. He raced through the night, shouting, “The British are coming!” to warn the citizens to prepare, protect their possessions, and ready themselves for battle.
But that’s not exactly what happened. Revere did indeed make a midnight ride, but it was a discreet, secretive mission. Only a select few were warned—mainly patriots who needed to hide their weapons and key American figures like John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Revere certainly didn’t shout, as British soldiers were stationed throughout the area and he risked being caught. And Revere wasn’t the only one making the ride that night, though he’s the one remembered due to the famous poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” published in 1860, which cemented his place in history, myths included.
7. Christopher Columbus Did Not Prove the Earth Was Round
Exhausted yet proud, Christopher Columbus triumphantly returns to Spain, eager to share his monumental discovery. "The earth is round, and I’ve proved it!" he declares. "Well, we already knew that," Queen Isabella replies.
While it might not have happened exactly that way, the truth is that by 1492, most Europeans were already aware that the earth wasn’t flat. As early as 600 BC, it was commonly accepted that the earth was spherical. Historian Jeffrey Burton Russell notes, "No educated person in Western Civilization from the third century BC onward believed that the earth was flat."
The idea that Columbus was a trailblazer for proving the earth’s shape was popularized by Washington Irving, best known for his works “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” During a visit to Spain in 1828, Irving was inspired to write a biography of Columbus. Sadly, the biography took many creative liberties, including falsely claiming that Spanish geographers had doubts about Columbus’ belief that the earth was round (which never occurred).
Apologies, everyone.
6. Betsy Ross Was Not the Creator of the First American Flag
Let's put aside the image of a gentle, elderly woman sitting peacefully by the hearth, diligently sewing each individual star onto the first American flag. That simply wasn't how things went down.
Elizabeth Ross gained recognition as a prominent flag maker during the Revolutionary War. According to legend, in 1777, George Washington himself asked Ross to craft the inaugural flag of the United States, even incorporating some of her design suggestions (the six-point stars are thought to be her idea). This tale was first shared by William Canby, Ross's grandson, in 1870 at the Pennsylvania Historical Society.
There's no verifiable proof that a new flag was created during this period. While Ross was certainly a skilled seamstress and flag maker for the U.S. government in the 1700s, the Smithsonian asserts that it's unlikely Ross ever made the first U.S. flag.
5. The Myth of Wall Street Suicides in 1929
The haunting image of businessmen throwing themselves off skyscrapers after the 1929 Stock Market Crash has lingered in American consciousness for nearly a century. On Black Thursday, 12.9 million shares were exchanged on Wall Street, devastating the economy. Amid their hopelessness, many stock brokers allegedly sought to end their lives by leaping from New York City's tallest buildings.
But in reality, that wasn’t the case. As early as the next day, the New York Daily News reported, "If half the suicides which were reported yesterday had proved true, Wall Street would be a deserted village." In fact, the number of suicides in the United States was lower in October of that year, when the crash took place, and was much higher during the summer months prior. A few weeks later, amid ongoing rumors, New York City’s chief medical examiner had to publicly clarify that the suicide rate at the time was actually below average.
Dark humor and dramatic storytelling helped Americans cope with the disaster, perpetuating the tales, despite there being no verified accounts of anyone taking their own life on Wall Street during the 1929 crash.
4. The War of the Worlds Broadcast Didn’t Trigger Mass Panic
One of history's most famous instances of the power of fiction might not have had as much of an impact as you’ve heard.
In 1938, Orson Welles and his troupe of actors interrupted a radio broadcast to announce that aliens were invading the United States. This was part of a radio adaptation of H.G. Welles's novel War of the Worlds, presented as a series of news reports. For years, it was believed that thousands of listeners across the country took the broadcast as real news, causing mass panic, with stories circulating of people rushing into stores shouting the news and leaping from their cars.
Recent studies have shown that fewer than 2% of people listening to the radio at that time actually tuned into the broadcast, and there's no solid proof that anyone believed it to be real. It turns out that newspapers, fearing the rapid rise of radio, took the opportunity to highlight the unreliability of the new medium and exploit the situation. Sure, a few may have thought Martians were truly invading Earth, but there’s minimal firsthand evidence of this so-called panic.
3. Marie Antoinette Didn’t Actually Say, 'Let Them Eat Cake!'
This infamous quote has been ridiculed in the media for centuries, but is it true? Probably not.
According to legend, when Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, heard that peasants were starving, she supposedly responded, 'Let them eat cake!' This phrase has haunted her reputation for years, painting her as an out-of-touch and clueless ruler during the French Revolution.
Recent findings, however, suggest that the phrase is actually a translation of 'Qu’ils mangent de la brioche,' meaning 'Let them eat brioche.' Even if the story were true, she would have been suggesting they eat an expensive type of bread, not cake. But it's unlikely the story is accurate, as the phrase first appeared in 1765, when the princess in question was only nine years old.
Most historians today agree that the story was simply a tool used to demonize royalty during the French Revolution, especially considering that Antoinette was known for her charity and generosity toward the poor.
2. Nero Didn’t Play the Fiddle as Rome Burned
If you know any Roman emperors apart from Julius Caesar, it’s likely the infamous Nero. Although we don’t have a great deal of information about him due to his death over 2,000 years ago, numerous tales about his life have persisted through the ages. From murdering his mother and two wives to persecuting Christians, it’s safe to say Nero hasn't been remembered as fondly as his great-great-great-great-great-uncle, Julius, or even his great-great-grandfather, Augustus.
One of the most enduring images of Nero as a ruler comes from the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64, when it’s claimed that the emperor gleefully played his fiddle and danced away from the flames. This legend originated with William Shakespeare, who humorously suggested that Nero strummed the lute while the city burned. Over time, the lute was mistakenly changed to a fiddle, and the myth has nearly become accepted as fact.
Almost. While it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Nero celebrated the city’s destruction, as the Encyclopedia Britannica states, 'More likely he strummed a proto-guitar while dreaming of the new city he hoped would rise from the ashes of the fire.' While this may not be entirely true, the phrase 'fiddling while Rome burns' has come to symbolize Nero’s reign, which was marked by widespread suffering caused by his actions.
1. No Witches Were Actually Burned During the Salem Witch Trials
Despite what Monty Python and the Holy Grail might have led you to believe, there were no mobs burning women during the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts. However, things were still far from good.
From June to September 1692, 152 individuals were charged with witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Contrary to popular belief, not all the accused were women; some men were also imprisoned due to these false charges. Of these 152 people, only 19 were executed, and none of them were burned at the stake.
The association of witches with burning stems from medieval Europe, where it was a common punishment for witchcraft. However, once the American Colonies were established, witchcraft was considered a criminal act against the government rather than heresy against the church. Thirteen victims of the Salem Witch Trials were hanged, while the other four died in prison due to harsh conditions.
And what of the last victim, you ask? That was Giles Corey, an elderly man who refused to plead, and thus couldn't be tried. To circumvent this, the Salem authorities forced Corey to lie on the ground, with heavy boards placed on top of him. Rocks and other heavy objects were added until he finally succumbed. In his final act of defiance, it’s said that Corey’s last words were 'more weight!'
