Historical Figures That May Or May Not Have Actually Existed
As humans, we gravitate towards
grandiose stories of brave leaders, mythological beings, and incredible minds.
Often our histories and folklores are intertwined. There are countless
historical figures that have shaped our society, but have you ever wondered if
they all really existed? Many researchers and historians have dedicated their
life’s work in order to find out the answer to this question. Here are some
famous people you’ve definitely heard of that may not have definitely ever
existed.
Mulan
Although most of us know Mulan from
the Disney animated feature, she was already a legendary figure in China. Many
scholars are divided on whether she was a real person or not. The Ballad of Mulan first
appeared in the Musical Records of Old and New during the Southern Chen dynasty in the 6th century.
King Arthur
Robin Hood
Robin Hood is the legendary outlaw that is often feature in English folklore and has been a mainstay of literature and films for many years. He is best known for his penchant for stealing from the rich in order to give to the poor. There have been numerous ongoing debates for centuries whether he existed or not, but there has never been concrete evidence for him to have existed.
Confucius
While many scholars agree that philosopher
and great thinker Confucius was in fact a real person, some have questioned
whether or not he was real. Lionel M. Jensen, an associate professor of history
and the director of Chinese studies at the University of Colorado in Denver
contends that Jesuit missionaries brought the idea that Confucius was the founder
of the school of thought during the 16th century.
William Tell
William Tell is a folk story hero from
Switzerland. According to legend, Tell was an expert marksman with a crossbow
and was the man who killed Albrecht Gessler, a tyrant ruling in Altdorf. Many
have debated whether he was a real person or not, but modern historians do not
believe there is evidence that he was real.
Homer
There is a great debate amongst scholars as
to whether he existed or not. Those who believe he was real say he was alive
during the 8th or 9th century BCE and was rom Ionia. He would have been a poet
of the oral tradition, and so it is believed that the works attributed to him
were definitely transcribed by others.
John Henry
John Henry is a folklore hero who worked as
a “steel-driving man,” meaning he hammered steel into rock in order to make
holes for explosives while railroad tunnels were being constructed. His story
is featured in classic blues folk songs, several films, and TV shows.
Helen of Troy
As stated in Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, Helen of Troy was “the face that launched a thousand ships.” Allegedly the most beautiful woman in the world, it doesn’t seem likely that she actually existed, but it merely a character in Homer’s epic poem The Illiad.
King Midas
Most of us have heard of King Midas who was
cursed with the ability to turn anything he touched into gold, giving us the
expression the Midas touch. While he most likely existed as a real king, it is
highly unlikely that the story he is known for is historically accurate. It is,
however, a great part of Greek mythology.
Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper was an unidentified serial
killer who was active in impoverished areas of London in 1888. He has never
been identified, so it’s really hard to know whether all the murders attributed
to him were actually committed by the same, one person. The murders remain
unsolved to this day, leading many Jack the Ripper legends becoming a
combination of pseudo-history, folklore, and historical research.
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