Popular, but untrue

It didn’t happen: 10 history myths that are regarded as true

A big part of history is dependent on who’s telling it, but some facts are indisputable. However, some stories have become so widespread —be it because of popular legend or by honest mistake— that most would assure them to be true. Some have even been transmitted for generations, but they happened in a different way or not at all. Let’s revise 10 historic "facts" that are just myths.

The idea that Viking helmets had horns is consistent with their fame as frightening warriors, but it is simply not true. This misconception is a result of 19th-century artists, such as Richard Wagner, and their interest in the Middle Ages, which, in many cases, involved inventing facts when reliable information was lacking. We now know that Vikings wore cap-like helmets with nose guards, and without any protruding elements.

The French Revolution and its rejection of the monarchy led to Marie Antoinette having a tarnished reputation, with many accusing her of not caring about her subjects and living an extravagant life while the French people suffered. The phrase ‘let them eat cake’, attributed to her, is a big part of this, but no matter how she actually behaved, we know as a fact that she never said it. This phrase was attributed to an unnamed princess by philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau, but at that time, Marie Antoinette was 9 years old and still lived in Austria.

While the father of the nation did wear dentures, the widespread belief that these were made out of wood is not true. Historians have confirmed that his dentures were made from a mix of different materials, including ivory, human teeth, animal teeth, and metallic pieces. The idea that these were wooden is most likely a result of the brownish appearance of stained ivory.

Roman emperor Nero has a well-deserved reputation as a tyrant. He habitually murdered opponents, persecuted thousands of Christians, and was known to enjoy animal cruelty. However, there is no solid proof that he intentionally started the fire of Rome, although we know that he did nothing to stop it, and played music as he watched the city burn. The fire was most likely an accident, and Nero took advantage of it to rebuild Rome in grandeur.

Scholars have known the Earth is a sphere since classical antiquity, and medievals inherited that knowledge from the ancient Greeks. Why did they not travel to the West then? Is not that they thought they would reach the end of the world, but that they were unsure of the dangers of such a travel. The idea of medieval people as flat-earthers is a result of 19th-century writers' concept of the Middle Ages as a ‘dark time’ of ignorance.

To the surprise of many, the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain on July 2nd. But why is Independence Day not celebrated on that date? Founding Father John Adams asked the same question. While the voting was done on the 2nd, the document was finalized and distributed on the 4th, and most delegates adopted that date. John Adams wrote extensively about the importance of July 2nd, and he reportedly declined invitations to 4th of July celebrations in protest.

The Salem witch trials were undoubtedly outrageous, and modern historians believe that the result was mass hysteria. However, the idea that convicted individuals were burned at the stake is just a popular myth. 19 people were executed by hanging, and one other died during interrogation due to torture. In the years after, it was proven that evidence of witchery was fabricated, and the trials were declared unlawful.

While historians and chroniclers have several theories about Julius Caesar’s dying words, we know for a fact that he never said ‘_Et tu, Brute?’ (You too, Brutus?) to his adoptive son. This phrase was coined by Elizabethan playwright Richard Edes and later popularized by William Shakespeare. What did Caesar say instead? We don’t know, but the prevailing theories are that he remained silent or that he spoke in Greek and said ‘_καὶ σύ, τέκνον?" (‘You too, child?’).

When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, she knew she was making a political statement. However, contrary to what many believe, she was sitting on a part of the bus that African Americans were allowed to use. Why was she asked to give up the seat, then? She was sitting in a section that was for everyone, but where white people had priority. When the white section became full, she was asked to give up her spot. She refused, and the rest is history.

The story of Galileo Galilei’s trial is one of the most widespread historical myths, and most people are certain that he was tortured because of his beliefs and then executed. Galileo was indeed tried by the Church, but it was not the simplistic case of science vs. faith most believe it to be. In reality, it was a scientific debate and, while Galileo was ultimately right in defending Heliocentrism, he failed to prove it. After the trial, he received house arrest in a villa, where he died of natural causes.

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Architectural wonders: Ancient buildings that are still in use

All around the world, we can find examples of the architectural wonders created by ancient civilizations, but many of these have reached our days as ruins. Many, but not all. Some have resisted the wear and tear of time so well —be it because they were maintained or due to their excellent construction— that they are not only standing, but they are functional and in use today. What are they being used for? Let’s find out!

The original Pantheon had been commissioned by General Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa during the reign of Augustus and built on the site of an older temple. Destroyed in a fire, the current building was built in the 2nd century under Emperor Hadrian’s orders and has been, since the 7th century, a Catholic temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the Martyrs.

What makes this building so impressive? The round building has the world's largest and oldest unreinforced concrete dome, excellently preserved. The dome, built in one piece and with a central opening as the only light source for the building, has served as a blueprint for many other buildings. Besides being regularly used as a church, it is also the resting place of two Italian monarchs.

Located at the foot of Mount Sinai, St. Catherine’s Monastery is the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery. It was built between 548 and 565 under the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. The important relics enclosed in it—mainly, the remains of St. Catherine of Alexandria, and the burning bush seen by Moses—have made the place an important pilgrimage site for many believers.

Built around the already existing Chapel of the Burning Bush and the Well of Moses, the fortified complex includes a 6th-century basilica, a bell tower with a bell donated by a Russian tsar, a mosque, a library, a museum, and a sulfur spring. The basilica encloses the prior church, and it is one of the oldest surviving Christian buildings in the world.

Dating back to the 1st century AD, the Maison Carrée (meaning ‘square house’) was built as a temple for the imperial cult in the French city of Nîmes. It has been used as a temple, a church, a royal residence, a museum, a government building, and even as a stable. Nowadays, it is used as a museum.

The building presents similarities with other Roman temples of Tuscan style, but follows the Corinthian order. The portico and its columns are richly decorated with vines and leaves, and the entire building is situated on a high podium, giving it a towering presence over the area. The Maison Carrée has served as inspiration for many neoclassical buildings, the most famous being Virginia’s State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson.

How old is this Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and Shakti? Well, it depends on who you ask. Locals claim that it was built during the 1st century, but most of its elements date to the 6th century, so it might have been rebuilt or modernized.

No matter the date, the Mundeshwari Temple is one of the oldest continuously working Hindu temples in the world. It has an octagonal floor plan, not common in this kind of building, and its walls are intricately carved. Up to this day, it is still a major pilgrimage site for Hindus across the world.

A cathedral, a mosque, a museum, and a mosque once again. Built in 360 AD, destroyed in a fire, and rebuilt in 537 AD as the main Byzantine cathedral, Hagia Sophia (meaning ‘Holy Wisdom’) is a testament to old Constantinople, and it was intended to be the biggest church in the world.

After the Ottoman conquest, its conversion into a mosque involved the addition of minarets and other architectural elements. Many mosaics and paintings, forbidden in Islamic tradition, were covered with plaster, although they have been restored during the 20th century and given fabric coverings that protect them and hide them from view.

This stupa—a Buddhist building containing relics—is located in Sri Lanka, and it is said to contain body relics of the historic Buddha, making it a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists everywhere. Built in the 2nd century by King Dutugemunu after the unification of Sri Lanka, it is nearly as tall as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The stupa has suffered numerous attacks during its history, and in the 19th century, it was completely covered by wilderness. Renovation efforts started in the early 20th century, and it is now a point of pride for Sri Lankans.

Founded in 607, this complex stands out from others on this list for one simple reason: it is made out of wood. One of the main Buddhist temples in Japan, it was completely burned down and was rebuilt in the year 670, and its main five-story pagoda is considered one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world. In 1949, another fire caused grave damage, but it was luckily contained.

Built around the time Buddhism was introduced in Japan, the complex showcases architectural influences from Korea and China, fused with unique Japanese elements. During World War II, big sections of the complex were dismantled and hidden, but the area was ultimately spared from attacks.

Dating to the late 1st Century AD, the tower of Hercules is the oldest Roman lighthouse still standing. Built under Emperor Trajan, it was originally called Farum Brigantium or Lighthouse of Brigantia after a nearby Roman settlement in Galicia, Spain. Its current name comes from a mix of Classical and Celtic myths, according to which Hercules fought and defeated a giant and built a tower over his buried head, the same tower from which ancient Celts discovered Ireland and sailed towards it.

The building has been in continuous use since its construction, not only as a lighthouse, but also as a fortress and a lookout point. As a testament to its cultural importance, the Tower of Hercules is depicted in the Galician coat of arms, alongside the head and bones of the defeated giant.

One of the oldest buildings in the U.S. territory, San Juan’s Casa Blanca was built as the residence of the first Spanish governor of Puerto Rico in 1521. Originally made out of wood, it was rebuilt in stone after a fire and was used as a fortress during conflicts.

Serving as the governor’s residence for more than two centuries—until La Fortaleza was built—it was then used for military purposes and later left in disuse in the 20th century. After renovations, it is nowadays a museum and a testament to the Puerto Rican colonial period.

When we think about Roman arenas, we are likely to remember the Colosseum. However, there are older arenas that are still in use and have better resisted the passage of time. The Arena of Verona is one example. Built around 30 AD with a capacity for 30,000 people, it was temporarily abandoned after the fall of the Empire, but was used again during medieval times.

The exterior part of the building was partially destroyed by an earthquake in the 12th century, and some sections were demolished to make way for new buildings, but laws to protect it were established during the Renaissance period. Nowadays, the arena serves as a venue for opera, concerts, and other musical performances.