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.

Furry instincts

When animals flee, take cover: 10 chilling early warnings from nature

Image: Zoltan Fekeshazy

Long before radar and satellites, animals have relied on their sensory superpowers to detect natural disasters. From elephants hearing through the ground to ants reacting to tremors and storms in advance, many creatures exhibit behaviors that hint at impending doom—often hours or even days before it hits. Here's a list of 10 real ways animals are believed to detect and respond to natural disasters.

Image: paweldotio

Elephants can detect low-frequency seismic vibrations through their feet, known as infrasound. These sounds travel great distances through the ground, giving elephants an early warning system for earthquakes.

Field studies in Sri Lanka and Thailand have recorded elephants moving to higher ground hours before tsunamis and quakes.

Image: Chewy

Dogs often display signs of anxiety—pacing, whining, hiding—before storms or earthquakes. In some cases, they have even alerted owners to seizures or cardiac events.

Their acute sense of smell and hearing allows them to detect subtle changes in barometric pressure and even the scent of ozone that precedes a thunderstorm. In quake-prone areas, dogs have been reported barking frantically seconds before tremors strike.

Image: Alexandre Boucey

Sharks can detect shifts in barometric pressure, allowing them to dive deeper before hurricanes strike.

In 2001, tagged bonnethead sharks in Florida were observed diving rapidly in response to Hurricane Gabrielle’s approach. Their pressure-sensitive lateral lines function like an early-warning system for dangerous storms.

Image: Prince Patel

Ants have been observed to alter their foraging behavior and nest structure before earthquakes. Scientists believe they react to changes in soil gases and vibrations.

In addition to earthquakes, ants can also detect approaching storms. Changes in barometric pressure and humidity can cause ants to become more active or retreat deeper into their nests.

Image: Mohamed Fsili

As one would expect, birds are highly responsive to changes in air pressure. Many species change flight paths or stop migrating if a storm is coming.

In 2014, golden-winged warblers abruptly left Tennessee days before a deadly tornado outbreak, only returning after the threat passed. GPS trackers on some of the birds confirmed the sudden 900-mile round-trip escape.

Image: Geoff Brooks

Fish have been recorded jumping out of the water just before earthquakes, possibly reacting to pressure or specific chemical changes.

In Japan, koi and eels exhibited panic-like thrashing and leaping before the 2011 Tōhoku quake. Researchers suggest their specialized senses can detect subtle pressure waves or dissolved gas anomalies in water.

Image: Michelle Gordon

Rats often leave urban areas en masse before major flooding events. Sewer vibrations or scent cues may warn them of the incoming danger.

In India and Bangladesh, mass rat migration has historically preceded flash floods. Their survival relies on quickly identifying danger zones, and some believe their whiskers help detect water movement and even vibrations deep underground.

Image: Peter Fogden

Dolphins may be able to detect algal blooms (red tides) from miles away and often swim clear of affected areas.

Scientists believe their acute echolocation could help them sense chemical changes or detect developing dead zones. In Florida, dolphins have been observed avoiding regions impacted by Karenia brevis blooms long before any visible changes appear in the water.

Image: Erzsébet Vehofsics

Frogs may alter their calls ahead of seismic activity, responding to low-frequency vibrations.

Researchers in Japan recorded changes in frog croaking patterns in the days before the 2011 quake. The frogs emitted less frequent and lower-pitched calls, suggesting discomfort from environmental shifts.

Image: William Warby

Crickets often go silent ahead of disasters. This curious behavior may be linked to their sensitivity to ground vibrations and air pressure changes.

Studies in Indonesia noted decreased cricket chirping before tsunamis. The silence has been proposed as a natural indicator, potentially tied to shifts in humidity or ground tension.