Myths, Debunked
The 'facts' everyone believes that never actually happened
Debunked: Catherine the Great Did Not Die Having Sex With a Horse
The viral tale of Catherine the Great's death by horse is 18th-century political slander. Here is what the household actually recorded that day.
Debunked: Einstein Never Failed Math
Everyone repeats it: Einstein flunked math as a kid. His actual school certificate says the exact opposite, in writing, with a grade.
Debunked: Medieval Scholars Never Believed the Earth Was Flat
The flat-earth Middle Ages never happened. Bede, Aquinas, and a required university textbook all taught a sphere, centuries before Columbus sailed.
Debunked: Napoleon Was Not Actually Short
Napoleon's 'short' reputation comes from a mixed-up unit of measurement. His actual autopsy records tell a very different story.
Debunked: Vikings Never Wore Horned Helmets
The horned Viking helmet came from a German opera stage, not a Scandinavian battlefield. Here is what the graves and sagas actually show.
Debunked: Salem's Witches Were Hanged, Not Burned
Salem's convicted witches went to the gallows, never the stake. Here is what the 1692 court records actually say, and why the flames stuck in memory anyway.