9 historical figures, the existence of which scientists call into serious doubt
These nine names we hear from school, about these people written many literary works, removed a huge amount of movies. So we somehow never comes to doubt the fact of their existence. But in vain.
It turns out that these figures are not so historical, but rather the images of the collective and almost fictional. Mention their real-life historical documents are almost there, and the question of whether they are living in the past people, is still the subject of scientific debate.
Homer
We learned that Homer, who lived in Ancient Greece, is the author of the epic poems the Iliad (the oldest monument of European literature) and "Odyssey". It turns out, whether he was a real person — a question that historians are fighting. In fact, about the life and personality of the great poet reliably know nothing — where he was born, date of birth (specify dates), the year in which they wrote their works.
There is a version that the name of Homer (according to one version, the name means "blind") wrote and edited many generations of poets and writers, whose names have not been preserved.
Robin Hood
One of the most beloved characters of the people for many centuries. It is understandable: Robin hood, according to legend, robbed the rich and gave all to the poor. The key words "legend" is the name Robin hood appeared in many literary works, the most popular of which used a version of Walter Scott. However, the identity of the prototype of these ballads and legends is uncertain.
In the XII century was the term Robehod, but they denounced indiscriminately bandits. Apparently this practice and ate a beautiful legend.
King Arthur and the knights of the Round table
The legend of king Arthur the beautiful Guinevere and loyal knights is one of the most romantic and beautiful legends of Britain. Historians agree that the prototype of the hero of legend is likely existed; maybe they were even a few. But the way we're accustomed to thanks to popular culture, including cinema, with a beautiful wife that has changed with Lancelot and the brave knights of the Round table — existed only in literary works of the ancient times.
Curiously, Arthur — character brythonic (Celtic) epic and fought with the ancestors of the British. Nevertheless, he firmly entrenched in British culture.
William Tell
About the glorious freedom fighter from the tyranny of the Swiss people we know through the work of Johann Schiller and the Opera by Rossini. Many to call him a marksman and tell how he was forced to shoot from the crossbow to the Apple on the head of his little son. He even has a monument in Altdorf. But the historicity of his personality is challenged, because in addition to oral tradition, other evidence of his life there.
Sherlock Holmes
For several decades after the mad success of the works of sir Arthur Conan Doyle about Sherlock Holmes, it was thought that this person really has opened a mysterious crimes in Victorian England. However, Holmes was completely fictional, and the address on Baker street at the time of writing the stories did not exist.
To create a series of works about the detective Conan Doyle gave familiarity with doctor Joseph bell of Edinburgh, who was fond of chemistry and especially poisons. Bell was famous for its ability to smallest detail to guess a character and a person's past.
William Shakespeare
Evidence for the existence of the great poet and playwright based on the mention of his name in historical documents. Doubts about the historicity of Shakespeare expressed mainly because there is no evidence of receipt of education, and yet the vocabulary of the poet, judging by the works, ranging from 17 to 29 500 000 words. Literary genius grew up in a family where not able to read and write, and daughter of Shakespeare was illiterate. Besides, I do not have a single manuscript written by the hand of Shakespeare.
Proponents of this theory are inclined to believe that the name of William Shakespeare was hiding a group of poets and writers who do not want to disclose their names.
King Solomon
The main source of information about the life and reign of Solomon, the Bible. He is credited with the possession of untold wealth, the highest wisdom and justice, as well as some magical qualities and understanding the language of beasts, the power over the Jinn.
Other direct historical evidence of the existence of Solomon was not detected.
The Marlboro Man
50 years in the United States and in the 90s in Russia, no one could not imagine that a brutal cowboy with a beautiful story advertisers. Tobacco company came up with a maximum of manly and rugged way to promote filtered cigarettes, which at the time was considered as purely female. And the Marlboro man, do not hesitate to Smoking those cigarettes in public, and was followed by others. Cigarette sales soared. Incidentally, the four appeared in advertising Marlboro men died of lung cancer, including by reason of Smoking cigarettes "Marlboro".
Uncle Sam
During the First world war American propaganda posters depicted the harsh and strong elder Uncle Sam, which called for volunteers to join the army. Honestly, don't know who thought that Uncle Sam really existed. We think everyone knew that the posters depicted a collective image that was previously used in the UK. And his face was stern, Sam received from cartoonist James Montgomery Flagg, who created it in 1917.