20 Greatest Historical Myths

http://www.writespirit.net/ad/greatest_historical_myths

Just curious to know if this was factual. I was taught most of these "myths" in school!

[Dr. Dave]

Oyyoyoy. I read through that drivel, only to find that their number 1!!!! falsehood is in fact true, and their explanation of why it is not true is a misunderstanding, as explained by our very own snopes- though that on has a different "first" President.

Also, as for July 4, 1776 being the date of our independence, as far as the folks on this side of the drink, it was.

Many of the others, meh. (#20- true, the actual fruit was not identified, #12 King John sealed but did not sign the Magna Carta.) A few are interesting explanations of why something is false- 17, 13, 14.

But to read though and get to the old "George Washington was not the first President..." aarrrgh!

[snopes]

Originally Posted by Dr. Dave

Also, as for July 4, 1776 being the date of our independence, as far as the folks on this side of the drink, it was.

Actually, as far as the people involved in the event were concerned, the date of U.S. independence was July 2, 1776. That was the day they voted to declare the colonies independent -- July 4 was merely the day they completed the document explaining their justifications for doing so.

- snopes

[Dr. Dave]

Dear snopes,

Next time you consider adding icons, plese add one with the bow down gesture (a la Wayne and Garth "We're not worthy.")

P.S. Thank you for the correction. Either way, the point stands that we (well, not me, but you know) considered ouselves independent from July 1776 on, not 1783.

[snopes]

Originally Posted by Dr. Dave

Either way, the point stands that we (well, not me, but you know) considered ouselves independent from July 1776 on, not 1783.

But the point the author's making is when the colonies actually became independent in fact -- simply declaring something doesn't necessarily make it so.

Of course, he invalidates any claim to credibility when he makes the egregious error of claiming that "America's founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776."

- snopes

[Andrew of Ware]

Just a few thoughts.

20. Eve ate a bad apple

No one knows where the Garden of Eden was (if it existed at all), but I have heard it said that in the areas where it was most likely to have been apples do not grow. (Of course, this could be an UL about an UL.)

19. Newton was hit by an apple

Apples continued to get bad press with the famous story that scientist Sir Isaac Newton was under a tree, minding his own business, when an apple fell on his head. Just as well it provided him the inspiration for the laws of gravity, or the poor apple would never be forgiven! But while the falling apple is a good story, it probably never happened. The story was first published in an essay by Voltaire, long after Newton's death. Before that, Newton's niece, Catherine Conduitt, was the only person who ever told the story. It was almost certainly an invention.

Sorry, but this is wrong on several counts. The author is correct in that Newton was not hit by an apple, but it was an apple falling to the ground that inspired Newton to form his gravitational laws. Newton's home where he formulated a lot of his laws and did his experiments (gravity and the refraction of light, for example) is Woolsthorpe Manor and still exists. It is now a National Trust house.

Newton himself told the story about the apple. In 1726 (a year before his death) he was having tea with his great friend Stukeley (who did pioneering archaeological work at Stonehenge). Stukeley wrote after the dinner: 'The weather being warm we went into the garden and drank tea, under the shade of some apple trees, only he and myself. Amidst other discourses, he told me, he was just in the same situation, as when formerly, the notion of gravitation came into his mind. It was occasion'd by the fall of an apple as he sat in contemplative mood. Why should the apple always descend perpendicularly to the ground, thought he to himself. Why should it not go sideways or upwards, but constantly to the earth's centre.'

The emphasis is mine. The apple tree at Woolsthorpe Manor which inspired Newton blew down in 1820, but the 'gnarled old apple tree in front of the house has probably grown from the remains of it.' (This quote and the one above is taken from the National Trust's 1987 guide book, revised in 1992 and 1996, page 16.)

12. King John signed the Magna Carta

The Magna Carta (Great Charter) is known as a landmark in history, limiting the power of the King of England and sowing the seeds of democracy. Paintings show King John reluctantly signing the Magna Carta in a meadow at Runnymede in 1215. Fair enough, except for one thing. As well as being a rogue, John was probably illiterate. As anyone could see from looking at one of the four original Magna Cartas in existence, he simply provided the royal seal. No signature required.

I believe that this is essentially correct - Magna Carta was not signed at Runnymede or elsewhere. It was indeed sealed. However, it was not sealed at Runnymede. (The article implies this, but does not state it.) At Runnymede John agreed to various clauses which became Magna Carta. Clerks wrote down what was agreed, but then went away to write up the agreement. It was not sealed until a few weeks later. See the Magna Carta gallery at the British Library in London. (I have heard it said that some things John agreed to at Runnymede were omitted from the final document and others were added.)

Edison invented the electric light

Thomas Edison is known as the world's greatest inventor. His record output - 1,093 patents - still amazes us, over a century later. Astonishing, except for one thing: he didn't invent most of them. Most Edison inventions were the work of his unsung technicians - and his most famous invention, the electric light, didn't even belong to his laboratory. Four decades before Edison was born, English scientist Sir Humphry Davy invented arc lighting (using a carbon filament). For many years, numerous innovators would improve on Davy's model. The only problem: none could glow for more than twelve hours before the filament broke. The achievement of Edison's lab was to find the right filament that would burn for days on end. A major achievement, but not the first.

I believe this is true. Joseph Swan of Newcastle invented an incandescent light bulb long before Edison. It was used to light Cragside in Northumberland long before Edison 'saw the light'. The official National Trust guide book (for it is also now a National Trust property) has a contemporary illustration of the house lit by electric light. Swan was outraged when Edison patented the light bulb, but the two men came to an agreement and marketed the 'Edison-Swan' light bulbs together. The original light bulbs can be seen in the museum at Cragside.


BTW: Is there inconsistency between legends six and one? In legend six he says that the United States was not an independent country until 1783, yet he then says that it had fourteen presidents before that date. I suppose you can have presidents of a non-independent country, but that would still make Washington the first president of the independent USA. (Anyway I will not say anymore because I do want 'to teach granny how to suck eggs'.)

ETA: It took me so long to research and write up my post that I have been spanked on the Washinton point. Apologies.

[Beachlife!]

His explanation about the electric light isn't quite right either. The Arc light worked by creating an arc between two points. These points, which were were burned up by the arcing process. The Edison light bulb used a filament which glowed when electicity passed throught it. In his research he disovered which filament worked best. But this light was not the same technology as the arc light.

[Ramblin' Dave]

Originally Posted by snopes

Of course, he invalidates any claim to credibility when he makes the egregious error of claiming that "America's founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776."

It's been a while since I read that chapter of my history book...is it closer to the truth that the signers affixed their signatures over the course of several days or even weeks after July 4?

[KingDavid8]

And this, regarding Mithras:

The followers of this faith believed that Mithras was born of a virgin on 25 December, and that his birth was attended by shepherds...

Actually, according to pre-Christian Mithraism, none of this is true, except perhaps for the December 25th bit. Early Mithraists believed that Mithras was formed within a solid mountain and dug himself out (though I do suppose that a mountain has never had sex, so it might technically be a virgin). Mithras being born of a human virgin and having shepherds in attendence were additions to the story made in Rome in post-Christian times, though they were in different versions of the story. One version has Mithras being born of a human virgin, and another version has shepherds helping to dig Mithras out of the side of the mountain.

David

[Bonnie]

The myth that [Marie Antoinette] spoke these infamous words was probably spread by revolutionary propagandists, to illustrate her cold indifference to the plight of the French people.

Except there's no evidence (at least none so far discovered) that's contemporaneous with the Revolution and the Terror to bolster the claim that revolutionary propagandists of the period attributed that particular expression to her. In fact, no contemporaneous evidence has so far materialized to support the existence of a belief held in the late 18th century that Marie Antoinette had actually uttered the line "Let them eat cake" in response to the bread shortage.

Bonnie "hoist by her own batard, she was" Taylor

Regarding the Salem Witch Trials - the one who was pressed to death, I can't remember his name right now, but he was not pressed because he was a witch/warlock. He refused to plead to the charges and so was pressed. He was not tried and convicted.

Salem Witch Trials may have also had the first expert testimony (or at least a very early example of expert testimony) in US (well, proto-US) history with the testimony of Increase Mather who opined that the devil could not use the form of an unwilling person to torment the innocent. Thus, the people that the spiritual entities resembled and which pinched (that was a big way how those nasty evil entities tormented people) the victims could be held responsible.

[Brad from Georgia]

Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost

Regarding the Salem Witch Trials - the one who was pressed to death, I can't remember his name right now, but he was not pressed because he was a witch/warlock. He refused to plead to the charges and so was pressed. He was not tried and convicted.

Salem Witch Trials may have also had the first expert testimony (or at least a very early example of expert testimony) in US (well, proto-US) history with the testimony of Increase Mather who opined that the devil could not use the form of an unwilling person to torment the innocent. Thus, the people that the spiritual entities resembled and which pinched (that was a big way how those nasty evil entities tormented people) the victims could be held responsible.

Giles Cory. He refused to plead because if he pled "not guilty" and was found guilty, his land might be forfeit to the court and his sons would not inherit; same if he pled "guilty." So he stood mute, and in trying to force a plea from him, the investigators killed him. For that matter, the "Salem witches" were actually from Salem Village, not the present-day Salem; their settlement's name was later changed to Danvers. It was a "suburb" of the larger town of Salem.

[Tantei Kid]

Ugh, most of these rub me the wrong way. Most of them are not "great" historic myths at all. Seriously, of all the myths about history the fact that Van Gogh only cut off part of his ear somehow ranks among them? That and the president one is a personal hanging munchkin.

Thanks for the addendum, Brad. Quite obviously you're a man who knows his witch trials. A final bit of useless info regading Mr. Cory, he was pressed on Sept. 19, 1692. If you haven't read it yet, In the Devil's Snare, by Mary Beth Norton is a pretty decent book on the subject (at least I thhought so.)

[hoitoider]

Originally Posted by Ramblin' Dave

It's been a while since I read that chapter of my history book...is it closer to the truth that the signers affixed their signatures over the course of several days or even weeks after July 4?

I have no idea what this is about but surely one knows that a document that requires multiple signatures is dated, then signed to validate it. Whether the document was drawn up on its actual date or signed on that date has nothing to do with it.

[Brad from Georgia]

Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost

Thanks for the addendum, Brad. Quite obviously you're a man who knows his witch trials. A final bit of useless info regading Mr. Cory, he was pressed on Sept. 19, 1692. If you haven't read it yet, In the Devil's Snare, by Mary Beth Norton is a pretty decent book on the subject (at least I thhought so.)

Well, it's my business, you know. Actually, I did quite a bit of research on Salem Village and its alleged witches while preparing one of my books in the John Bellairs series. Oh--my favorite part of Cory's pressing: His last words. When the attendants had placed a huge quantity of stones on the door that was pressing him, they leaned down and yelled, "How do you plead?" And Cory grunted, "More weight!"

[Mateus]

I'm curious as to how Eve eating a whatever and Jesus being born whenever are considered historical.

[Syllavus]

Originally Posted by Brad from Georgia

Well, it's my business, you know. Actually, I did quite a bit of research on Salem Village and its alleged witches while preparing one of my books in the John Bellairs series. Oh--my favorite part of Cory's pressing: His last words. When the attendants had placed a huge quantity of stones on the door that was pressing him, they leaned down and yelled, "How do you plead?" And Cory grunted, "More weight!"

[hijack]Did you ever stop by the Salem Witch Museum during your research Brad? I went to college around Salem and I went to the museum once with a friend. They had tableaus set up with mannequins illustrating different events in the trial, kind of a weird museum, too many mannequins and not enough historical stuff. Although you can't go wrong with a mannequin Giles Cory being pressed under fake rocks.

I've always found it interesting/odd that the current town of Salem has such a big population of wiccans who live and/or visit there, especially around Halloween. I mean, the people killed there weren't really witches after all, so it seems odd that pagans would feel a need to connect with the town.

By the way, which book was it that you had to research the witch trials for? I don't think I have that book (I received a good-sized stack of your Bellairs books for Christmas last year), but I'm guessing it must feature Johnny Dixon and Duston Heights. [/hijack]

Seems to me I heard a folk song once that contained the line "More Weight! More Weight! Giles Cory he cried..."

Dog (She turned me into a newt!) Friendly

[Beachlife!]

Originally Posted by Syllavus

...I've always found it interesting/odd that the current town of Salem has such a big population of wiccans who live and/or visit there, especially around Halloween. I mean, the people killed there weren't really witches after all, so it seems odd that pagans would feel a need to connect with the town...

We visited Salem a couple October's ago (en route to the LOTR exhibit in Boston) and found this fact to hugely ironic. It's like a Mecca for witches now when there never really were witches to begin with.