There are a lot of popular stories out there that are not true. These false stories can be found on the internet, in magazines, or even passed along through word of mouth. Some of these stories may seem believable, but they are actually just myths. Here are 10 such popular stories that are not real.
10 – Walt Disney and Micky Mouse
The popular stories of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse are one of the most famous and well-known tales of all time. However, this story is not actually true. Walt Disney was born in 1901 in Illinois. He had a love for art and animation from a young age and began to create his own cartoons in his early twenties. In 1928, he created a cartoon called Steamboat Willie, which featured a character named Mickey Mouse. However, Mickey Mouse was not Walt Disney’s creation. He was actually created by someone else, Ub Iwerks.
Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks did not become friends until later on in their careers. In fact, the two men had a very rocky relationship. Walt Disney was often frustrated with Mickey Mouse’s popularity and felt that he was overshadowing his other characters. The two men did not speak to each other for a number of years. However, they eventually reconciled and became friends again.
9- 300 Spartans
In 480 BC, a massive Persian army under the command of Xerxes invaded Greece. The 7000 Greeks, led by Sparta, put up a heroic resistance but were ultimately defeated. Among the Spartans who died in the battle was King Leonidas.
The story of the 300 Spartans who fought to the death against the Persian army is one of the most enduring myths of the ancient world. But is it true? The myth of the 300 Spartans was first recorded by the Greek historian Herodotus. Herodotus wrote that the Spartans were sent to Thermopylae to hold back the Persian army while the rest of the Greek army retreated. The Spartans were ultimately defeated, but not before killing thousands of Persians.
However, Herodotus did not mention anything about the 300 Spartans. In fact, he only mentioned a force of 7,000 Spartans. It is possible that these popular stories of the 300 Spartans were created by later writers.
The problem with the story is that the number of Persian soldiers involved is greatly exaggerated. The actual number of Persian troops at the Battle of Thermopylae was around 20,000-30,000, far short of the one million claimed in the legend. Additionally, the Spartans only numbered around 7,000-8,000 men, so even if the story were true, they would have been vastly outnumbered.
While the story of the 300 Spartans holding off a million Persians is almost certainly not true, the bravery and heroism of the Spartans is still undeniable.
8- Napoleon’s Height
The famous story of Napoleon’s height has been a source of much confusion and debate over the years. Some say he was only 5’2″, while others claim he was as tall as 5’7″. So what’s the truth behind these popular stories?
The confusion over Napoleon’s height likely stems from the fact that there are two different units of measurement used for height – the French inch and the British inch. In France, height was traditionally measured in “pouces” (inches), while in Britain it was measured in “feet” and “inches”. 1 foot = 12 inches, so 1 British inch is equivalent to 0.8333 French inches.
When Napoleon was measured by the British after his exile to Saint Helena, he was found to be 5’7″ in British inches. This would convert to 5’5.55″ in French inches, which is taller than the 5’2″ that is sometimes claimed.
7- Einstein Failed in Math
Albert Einstein is one of the most celebrated and renowned physicists in history and has countless popular stories to his name. He developed the theory of relativity, which revolutionized our understanding of the universe. However, some people mistakenly believe that he was bad at math.
This myth probably originated from a quote Einstein made about himself. He once said, “I am not a mathematician.” However, this quote was taken out of context. Einstein refers to the fact that he is not a pure mathematician, meaning that he was not interested in solving abstract mathematical problems for their own sake. However, he was very skilled at applying mathematics to real-world problems.
In fact, Einstein was very good at math. He was able to apply complex mathematical concepts to problems in physics, which allowed him to develop his groundbreaking theories. He also had a deep understanding of the principles of mathematics, which allowed him to critique and improve the work of other mathematicians.
6- Newton and Apple
On October 5, 1726, English scientist John Conduitt wrote in his journal that Newton’s secretary, William Stukeley, had told him the following story: “After dinner, the gentleman guests having left the table, Dr. Newton stayed behind a little, and Mr. Stukeley asked him what he thought the force of gravity was. Dr. Newton replied that he had not hitherto calculated it, but he guessed it might be the same as that which made an apple fall from a tree.”
However, there is no record of Newton ever mentioning the apple story to Stukeley. In fact, there is no evidence that Newton even discussed gravity with anyone in the weeks or months following the alleged incident.
There are several possible explanations for the origin of the apple story. It may be that Stukeley made it up, or that he heard it from someone else and assumed Newton had said it. It’s also possible that Newton did mention the apple incident to Stukeley, but that Stukeley misinterpreted what Newton meant.
5- Edison and Lightbulb
This is an important distinction because it means that Edison didn’t just create a light bulb that worked – he created one that was practical and could be mass-produced.
Incandescent light bulbs work by passing an electric current through a wire filament, which then glows and emits light.
Edison’s innovation was to make the filament out of tungsten, which produces a brighter and longer-lasting light than the carbon filaments that had been used up to that point.
4- Lincoln and Slavery
Lincoln’s primary goal in the civil war was not to end slavery but to preserve the Union. He believed that the Union was an indivisible whole and that any attempt to break it up would be disastrous. Lincoln was also a pragmatist, and he knew that the Union could not be preserved if it allowed southern states to secede.
The primary cause of the civil war was the disagreement over slavery. The south wanted to keep slavery, while the north wanted it abolished. Lincoln initially hoped that the war could be resolved without bloodshed, but he eventually realized that this was not possible. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which freed the slaves in the southern states that were in rebellion.
Lincoln’s primary goal was to preserve the Union, but he also believed that slavery was wrong.
3- Jesus Born on 25 December
There is no historical evidence that Jesus was born on December 25th. The earliest mention of this date was in the mid-fourth century by a Roman historian named Sextus Julius Africanus. He simply stated that the date was an approximation of Jesus’ birth based on the astrological charts. There was no mention of this date being celebrated by Christians until the mid-fifth century.
The December 25th date for Christmas was likely chosen because it coincided with the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which celebrated the god Saturn. Saturnalia was a week-long festival that began on December 17th and ended on December 25th. It was a time of celebration and debauchery, where people would exchange gifts, eat lavish meals, and participate in carnivals.
It is clear that the December 25th date for Christmas was not based on any historical evidence, but was instead a later invention. There is no reason to believe that Jesus was actually born on this day.
2- Washington Cutting Cherry Tree
Amongst many popular stories of George Washington his one story that is the story of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree is one of the most well-known legends in American history. However, it is not true. There is no evidence that Washington ever chopped down a cherry tree, and the story was actually first told by his biographer, Parson Weems, more than 40 years after Washington’s death.
So why did the story of Washington chopping down a cherry tree become so popular? One possible explanation is that it appealed to Americans’ sense of patriotism. The story reinforces the idea that Washington was a great leader and exemplified the values of honesty and integrity.
1- Columbus Didn’t Discover America
When most people think of Christopher Columbus, they think of him discovering America. However, this is not actually true. Columbus never set foot on what we now know as the American continent. The closest that he ever got was the island of Hispaniola, which is now divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. So, if Columbus didn’t discover America, who did?
There is actually some debate over who the true discoverer of America was. Some people argue that it was Leif Erikson, who was the first European to set foot in North America. Others argue that it was John Cabot, who was the first European to explore the eastern coast of North America. However, the most commonly accepted view is that America was discovered by the Vikings, who arrived in North America centuries before Columbus did.
So, why do we celebrate Columbus Day instead of Viking Day? The answer to that question is a bit more complicated. The truth is that Columbus was not the first European to reach the Americas, but he was the first to travel there under the flag of the Spanish Crown. This is why Columbus Day is celebrated in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
