History isn’t always what it seems. Many popular myths about the past have been repeated so often that they are now accepted as fact. From horned helmets to short emperors, Hollywood and storytelling have distorted our view of what actually happened.

Uncovering the truth is essential for understanding our ancestors and how they lived. It forces us to question what we think we know and look deeper into historical records. In this article, we will debunk seven common historical misconceptions that refuse to die.

1. The Myth That Napoleon Was Short

One of the most enduring myths about the past is that Napoleon Bonaparte was tiny. The term “Napoleon Complex” is even used today to describe aggressive behavior in short men. However, this belief is largely a result of British propaganda and a difference in measurement systems.

At the time of his death, Napoleon measured 5 feet 2 inches in French units. In modern international units, this translates to about 5 feet 7 inches (1.68 meters). While this might seem average today, it was actually slightly taller than the average Frenchman of his era.

  • The Confusion: French inches were longer than British inches.
  • The Propaganda: British cartoonist James Gillray depicted him as “Little Boney,” a childish, tiny figure, to mock his power.
  • The Reality: his height was average or slightly above average for the 19th century.

2. Vikings Wore Horned Helmets

When you picture a Viking, you likely imagine a burly warrior with a horned helmet. This image is a staple of cartoons, movies, and sports mascots. Yet, historians and archaeologists have found zero evidence to support this.

The image of the horned helmet likely originated in the 19th century, specifically from costume designs for Wagner’s opera cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen. In reality, fighting with large horns on your head would be impractical and dangerous, giving opponents something easy to grab.

Authentic Viking helmets were:

  • made of iron or leather;
  • simple and rounded (often with a nose guard);
  • designed to deflect blows, not catch them.

3. Medieval People Believed the Earth Was Flat

Another one of the widespread myths about the past is that everyone in the Middle Ages thought the world was flat. The story goes that Christopher Columbus had to fight against this ignorance to get funding for his voyage. This is almost entirely fiction.

Educated people in Europe had known the Earth was round since the time of the ancient Greeks. Pythagoras and Aristotle had already established the spherical nature of the planet centuries before the Middle Ages began.

  • The Columbus Dispute: the argument wasn’t about the shape of the Earth, but its size. Columbus underestimated the circumference, while his critics correctly calculated that Asia was much farther away than he thought.
  • The Source of the Myth: 19th-century writers popularized the “flat earth” myth to make their own era look more enlightened compared to the “Dark Ages.”

4. Marie Antoinette Said “Let Them Eat Cake”

This quote is synonymous with the French Revolution and the clueless arrogance of the aristocracy. Supposedly, when told that the French peasants had no bread, Queen Marie Antoinette replied, “Let them eat cake” (or “brioche”).

Historians agree she never said it. The phrase appears in Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions, written when Marie Antoinette was still a child living in Austria. It was a common anecdote used to describe out-of-touch princesses long before she arrived in France.

Why did it stick?

  • It fit the narrative of the revolutionaries perfectly.
  • She was already unpopular due to her foreign heritage and spending habits.
  • It served as effective political propaganda to fuel hatred against the monarchy.

5. The Pyramids Were Built by Enslaved People

Pop culture and movies often depict the Great Pyramids of Giza being built by thousands of enslaved people toiling under the whip. This is one of the myths about the past that was popularized by the Greek historian Herodotus and later by biblical epics.

Archaeological discoveries tell a different story. Excavations near the pyramids have revealed a massive city built specifically for the workers.

Key findings include:

  • Respectful Burials: workers were buried in tombs near the sacred pyramids, an honor never granted to enslaved people.
  • Good Diet: bones show evidence of a protein-rich diet (cattle, sheep, and goats), indicating they were well-fed.
  • Paid Labor: evidence suggests they were skilled laborers and farmers working during the flood season, paid in rations and effectively tax breaks.

6. Gladiators Always Fought to the Death

The image of the Roman gladiator is bloody and final. We assume every match ended with a thumbs down and a dead loser. However, historians estimate that only a fraction of fights ended in death—perhaps as few as 10% to 20%.

Gladiators were expensive investments. Training, feeding, and housing them cost a fortune. Managers (lanistae) did not want their assets killed needlessly.

  • Referees: matches had referees who could stop the fight if a gladiator was too wounded.
  • Surrender: fighters could drop their shields or raise a finger to signal surrender.
  • Celebrity Status: successful gladiators were celebrities with fans; killing them off regularly would be bad for business.

7. Witches Were Burned at the Stake in Salem

The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 are a dark chapter in American history. A common visual associated with this event is women being burned at the stake. This is a confusion with European witch trials.

In Salem, Massachusetts, the accused were not burned. According to English law, which the colonies followed, witchcraft was a felony punishable by hanging, not a heresy punishable by fire.

  • The Numbers: 19 people were hanged.
  • The Exception: one man, Giles Corey, was pressed to death with heavy stones because he refused to enter a plea.
  • The Confusion: burning at the stake was a common punishment for witchcraft in parts of Europe (like Scotland and France) and for heresy during the Inquisition, which is likely where the confusion arises.

Why Debunking Historical Myths Matters

Accepting myths about the past without question distorts our understanding of human progress. When we believe medieval people were unintelligent “flat earthers” or that Romans were bloodthirsty savages who killed every gladiator, we distance ourselves from them.

The truth is often more nuanced and interesting than the fiction. Investigating these stories helps us develop critical thinking skills and better appreciate the complexity of history. It reminds us that “fake news” isn’t a modern invention—propaganda and rumors have been shaping our reality for centuries.