From the beginning of time, history is often told through stories. Some of these stories are based on facts and others are more likely folklore. Over time though, these folklore stories can be taken as historical facts with little to no evidence. Here are 10 historical facts that are actually myths.
1. George Washington Had Wooden Teeth
Yes, George Washington did have dental problems. But the dentures he had only appeared to be wooden because of staining. In reality, they were made of a variety of materials including human teeth, teeth from livestock, ivory, gold, lead, and metal springs.
2. Betsy Ross Made The First American Flag
Family oral history says that Betsy Ross made the first American Flag. In reality, there’s no evidence to back up this story. There are no historical records of a flag being made in 1776 and no letters or diaries confirming it. Some historians believe that Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, designed the flag. Hopkinson wrote a letter to the Board of Admiralty in 1780 requesting payment for his design.
3. Napoleon Was Short
For years, Napoleon has been documented in history books as being 5’2″. Well, a French foot was not the same as an English foot. When properly calculated, Napoleon was about 5’7″. So having a ‘Napoleon complex’ doesn’t have the same meaning anymore.
4. Witches Were Burned at The Stake During The Salem Witch Trials
Literature and movies have put into our heads that during the Salem Witch Trials, witches were burned at the stake. Actually, women were hung instead. Witch burning was more prevalent in medieval Europe. Burning at the stake was seen during this time as a way to purify the soul.
5. Stonehenge Was Built by Druids
Stonehenge is often confused with being built by Druids. Druids were ancient Celtic priests, teachers, and judges who had a high social status. They often acted as intermediaries between people and the spiritual realm. However, there is no record of Druids during the time Stonehenge was built, about 4,000 years ago. The first record of Druids was about 2,400 years ago. The builders of Stonehenge are still unknown.
6. The Vikings Wore Horned Helmets
According to the Economist, Professor Carl Emil Doepler, the costume designer for the very first production of Richard Wagner’s opera cycle “Der Ring de Nibelungen” in 1876 was the culprit of this myth. This made horns the de facto Viking helmet. So what did Viking helmets look like? In Scandinavia, archaeologists have found only one helmet, a rounded iron cap with a nose guard.
7. Pirates Had Peg Legs
Yes, pirates had a high risk of bodily injury. So, it would make sense that they would lose limbs. But, it’s very unlikely that pirates would survive an amputation when infection risks were very high. It’s more likely that literature has put this image in our heads like Long John Silver in Treasure Island.
8. Van Gogh Cut Off His Own Ear
As the story goes, van Gogh cut off his own ear in a fit of rage. Actually, van Gogh’s close friend and rival Paul Gauguin sliced off van Gogh’s ear lobe with a fencing rapier. The two had a falling out in 1888. Gauguin invented the story of van Gogh slicing off his own ear to make him seem mad.
Historical Myths Debunked
Before you believe everything you read, look for the evidence behind the facts. As Dutch historian Pieter Geyl famously said, history is “an argument without end.” Historians continue to debunk myths as new evidence is discovered about our past. What historical myth is most surprising to you?