# Are there any figures once thought to be mythical, whose historicity was later proved? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382 "2015-01-30T23:31:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gracefulfatsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@gracefulfatsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracefulfatsheba)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/1 "2015-01-30T23:31:22Z")
Are there any figures once thought to be mythical, whose historicity was later proved by scholars? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/2 "2015-01-31T00:06:29Z")
I believe Leaf Erickson might qualify. He was not accepted as having reached the mainland of North America and the Nordic people living for a while far inland was consider myth still when I was in grade school in the 70s. So while he was not mythical his accomplishments were and the pre-Columbian Nordic people living in North America were not accepted as fact. The entire city of Troy should count. It was accepted to be a myth until it was found. ---
**Author:** ![gracefulfatsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@gracefulfatsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracefulfatsheba)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/3 "2015-01-31T00:10:23Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I believe Leaf Erickson might qualify. He was not accepted as having reached the mainland of North America and the Nordic people living for a while far inland was consider myth still when I was in grade school in the 70s. So while he was not mythical his accomplishments were and the pre-Columbian Nordic people living in North America were not accepted as fact. > > The entire city of Troy should count. It was accepted to be a myth until it was found. Thanks, the example of Troy is a really good one and I hadn’t even considered it. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/4 "2015-01-31T00:22:23Z")
Belshazzar, of ‘Belshazzar’s feast’ fame was thought by many to be a mythical figure until the discovery of the [Nabonidus Cylinder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinders_of_Nabonidus) in the 19th century ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/5 "2015-01-31T01:22:26Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I believe Leaf Erickson might qualify. … Le_ **i** _f Erickson > **[Leif Erikson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Erikson)** > > Leif Erikson,\[note 1\] also known as Leif the Lucky (c. 970s – c. 1018 to 1025), was a Norse explorer who is thought to have been the first European to set foot on continental America, approximately half a millennium before Christopher Columbus. According to the sagas of Icelanders, he established a Norse settlement at Vinland, which is usually interpreted as being coastal North America. There is ongoing speculation that the settlement made by Leif and his crew corresponds to the remains Leif... ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/6 "2015-01-31T02:11:12Z")
Are you only asking about human figures, or does this discussion extend to mythical monsters too? The Kraken was a mythical giant sea monster, typically portrayed as a giant octopus or similar. It is now thought to be none other than a Giant Squid. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/7 "2015-01-31T05:26:51Z")
I wouldn’t call it “proved”, but historians seem to be relatively satisfied that the Amazons were inspired by nomadic tribes, living near the Black Sea, who had a large(ish) cohort of warrior women among their ranks. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/8 "2015-01-31T07:54:28Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Le_ **i** _f Erickson > > [Leif Erikson - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Erikson) Are you offering that as support or as refutation of that poster’s claim? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/9 "2015-01-31T08:41:05Z")
Of the spelling, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/10 "2015-01-31T10:57:02Z")
Since places are also allowed, I’ll mention the tomb and terra-cotta army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. His existence was never in doubt, but until it was discovered historical description of his tomb were thought to be greatly exaggerated, if not mythical. ---
**Author:** ![HowSoonIsThen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@HowSoonIsThen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HowSoonIsThen)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/11 "2015-01-31T11:06:58Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Are you only asking about human figures, or does this discussion extend to mythical monsters too? > > The Kraken was a mythical giant sea monster, typically portrayed as a giant octopus or similar. It is now thought to be none other than a Giant Squid. If we can include animals, I think the platypus and Komodo dragon count (though in the case of the platypus, it wasn’t seen as a myth so much as just a hoax). ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/12 "2015-01-31T15:51:28Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > > [@What\_Exit](#): > > > > > > I believe Leaf Erickson might qualify. … > > > > Le_ **i** _f Erickson > > > > [Leif Erikson - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Erikson) > > Are you offering that as support or as refutation of that poster’s claim? It seems the bold and italics on the “I” in Leif were a bit \*too \*subtle for some folks. (Thanks **Nava** ) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/13 "2015-01-31T16:18:10Z")
Considering the actual spelling was in old Norse runes, a lot of wasted posting about nothing important in fact. If you’re going to be nitpicking, perhaps this would be the better nitpick: _Leifr Eiríksson_ ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/14 "2015-01-31T16:23:43Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Are you only asking about human figures, or does this discussion extend to mythical monsters too? > > The Kraken was a mythical giant sea monster, typically portrayed as a giant octopus or similar. It is now thought to be none other than a Giant Squid. Really? Who is this thought by? Any of them actual marine biologists? Do they ever come near the surface alive? Can a giant squid even reach a tentacle out of water? They seem to have similar out of water characteristics as a jellyfish - deflated bags of goo. They are not really all that big from the pictures I have seen either; they are long but not ship attacking big. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/15 "2015-01-31T16:51:44Z")
Many historians believe King Arthur was based on a real person. I remain skeptical. I’ve seen articles claiming that Robin Hood was based on a real person, but I’m not sure if any reputable historian believes this. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/16 "2015-01-31T21:56:39Z")
The G Spot. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/17 "2015-01-31T22:19:19Z")
> [@HowSoonIsThen](#): > > If we can include animals, I think the platypus and Komodo dragon count (though in the case of the platypus, it wasn’t seen as a myth so much as just a hoax). Lots of cryptids, maybe. Nobody doubted that the coelacanthonce lived, but it was more surprising that it wasn’t extinct millions of years ago. The okapi seems like a joke as well. > [@FluffyBob](#): > > Really? Who is this thought by? Any of them actual marine biologists? Do they ever come near the surface alive? Can a giant squid even reach a tentacle out of water? They seem to have similar out of water characteristics as a jellyfish - deflated bags of goo. They are not really all that big from the pictures I have seen either; they are long but not ship attacking big. At least some octopuses can “walk” on land. They don’t have much muscle tone and sort of roll, but they manage. Leif Garrett was just a myth, right? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/18 "2015-01-31T22:21:39Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Many historians believe King Arthur was based on a real person. I remain skeptical. > I’ve seen articles claiming that Robin Hood was based on a real person, but I’m not sure if any reputable historian believes this. Well, there are LOTS of reputable historians who’ll tell you, “I believe the legends of King Arthur were probably based on a real warrior chieftain in or around Cornwall.” And there are many who’d tell you, “I believe the legends of Robin Hood were based on a real bandit active in the Nottingham area.” But there’s been no archaeological evidence to prove either conjecture. IF such evidence ever surfaces, we can add them to a list for the OP. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/19 "2015-01-31T22:27:39Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > … > > The entire city of Troy should count. It was accepted to be a myth until it was found. I believe the Hittites would also count. They were previously known only from the Bible, and many probably believed that they had just been made up by the writers. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382/20 "2015-01-31T22:31:31Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I believe Leaf Erickson might qualify. He was not accepted as having reached the mainland of North America and the Nordic people living for a while far inland was consider myth still when I was in grade school in the 70s. So while he was not mythical his accomplishments were and the pre-Columbian Nordic people living in North America were not accepted as fact… Keep in mind that evidence has demonstrated a Viking presence only in Newfoundland. There are legends about them making it as far inland as, say, Minnesota, but those are in the realm of pseudoscience and legend. Sure, they probably could have made the trip. But there’s no clear evidence that they _did_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-figures-once-thought-to-be-mythical-whose-historicity-was-later-proved/711382.md?page=2)