Do not believe everything you hear when it comes to the history of events a thousand years ago. Scientists still argue about many historical figures, giving arguments, both in favor of their real existence and against.
Since history can be interpreted in many different ways, and it is, in essence, not an exact science, it is likely that we sometimes get inaccurate information.
Moreover, it can be so inaccurate that the historical characters that we admire are possibly fictional at all. This applies to many ancient scientists and religious figures, as well as philosophers, whose statements have long turned into aphorisms. In short, you decide what to believe in.
William Shakespeare
Around the biography of Shakespeare, there were always a lot of rumors and speculations. Is this or that of his work authentic? Was he gay? Or maybe it was actually a woman who wrote under an assumed name. There is still no exact answer to these questions. Some historians believe that Shakespeare either stole works from a playwright named Christopher Marlowe, or Shakespeare and Marlowe are the same person.
Promotional video:
Homer
Homer is famous for being the author of the great classic poems The Odyssey and The Iliad. It is assumed that he was a blind Greek poet. However, various legends say that the stories described by Homer existed for thousands of years before being written down on paper. A group of scientists believes that a man named Homer may not have actually existed at all, and that we are talking about several Greek scientists who thus sought to preserve ancient Greek myths and legends.
King Arthur
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are mentioned in many legends that are considered the foundation of British history. Many of them, such as "Lady of the Lake", are considered nothing more than myths. But does this mean that Arthur is a fictional character? Some argue that King Arthur was actually a Roman soldier named Lucius Artorius Castus. Other historians believe it was a 5th century Briton king named Ryotam. However, the myths about the Holy Grail and King Arthur are most likely fiction.
Confucius
People are constantly quoting Confucius. "I do not reveal the truth to someone who does not strive for knowledge," says one of his many sayings. He is considered one of the wisest people in ancient China. However, how can we judge whether he actually existed, since, although his statements are apocryphal, the original sources have not yet been discovered? However, this was a common occurrence in that era. But if Confucius is not the author of a huge number of wise sayings, then who?
Robin Hood
Robin Hood, according to legends, robbed the rich and distributed the loot to the poor. However, not only he did this - similar stories tell about many other "noble robbers". These legends originated in the XII and XIII centuries. As oral tales of the infamous Robin Hood plied throughout Britain, criminals often referred to themselves by that name. Some historians claim that the original "Robin Hood" was a certain Fulk Fitzuorin, an enemy of King John.
Wilhelm Tell
Legend has it that the Swiss, Wilhelm Tell, escaped punishment in Austria when he knocked an apple off the head of his own son with an arrow shot from a bow. He is considered a true patriot and hero of Switzerland. However, historians have many reasons to believe that this is a fictional character, since it was discovered that the Swiss borrowed this legend from the Vikings. If Tell had actually found himself in a similar situation, most likely the Austrians would not have released him from punishment for outstanding accuracy and composure.
Jack the Ripper
One of the most famous serial killers in world history is London's Jack the Ripper. At first glance, he was undoubtedly a real person, otherwise, how were all these unfortunate women killed? However, some authors are inclined to believe that this is actually a collective image. Since all of his victims were prostitutes, historians hypothesize that the police, church leaders and other moralists deliberately fanned the murder stories in order to create fear and persuade women to abandon this "reprehensible trade."
Igor Abramov
