Fascinating stories in history have captivated the imagination of people for centuries, but sometimes, as details of these stories become lost, their reliability comes into question. From whimsical tales of fairies to forgeries, here are some of history’s biggest hoaxes and myths.
Cottingley Fairies
In Cottingley, England, two young cousins, Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, had a strange claim to make. In 1917, they said that they had photographed fairies in their garden. Many believed the photographs that seemingly showed off bizarre fairie-like creatures. But in the 1980s, the hoax was revealed to be cutouts from a fairy book.
The Piltdown Man
In Piltdown, England, a massive discovery fooled the world. A man named Charles Dawson claimed to have found a crucial missing link between humans and apes. The evidence was a skull found in 1912, but in 1953, it was further examined and discovered to be nothing more than a human skull and an orangutan jawbone put together.
Donation Of Constantine
A document called the Donation of Constantine was allegedly a Roman imperial decree stating that Constantine I transferred authority over to the Pope. The document was likely created in the 8th century, but it wasn’t until the 15the century that scholars proved that it was a forgery.
Elders Of Zion
In the early 20th century, dangerous protocols were falsified. These protocols were published in Russia and were wholly anti-Semitic. They originated in fiction and were later published as truth. Even though it has been debunked repeatedly, it has fueled unjust hate for Jewish people for many years.
Hitler Diaries
In the 1980s, A German magazine called Stern had reportedly found Hitler’s diaries. This immediately sparked intrigue, and its publications paid millions for the dairies. However, soon, they were determined to be forgeries, as they had many historical inaccuracies and anachronisms.
The Tiara Of Saitapharnes
The Golden Tiara of Saitapharnes was thought to be a priceless relic when it was found in the late 1890s. The tiara portrayed Greek mythology scenes. It was later found to be created from a goldsmith in Odessa. The tiara is a reminder that unknown origins aren’t always as grand as they are thought to be.
Crop Circles
Crop circles may be one of the most popular and controversial phenomena. Many people still believe that crop circles are signs of extra-terrestrial life. Others believe that they are created by pranksters. Doug Bower and Dave Chorley have confessed to making hundreds of crop circles in England using rope and planks.
Cardiff Giant
The Cardiff Giant was an enormous petrified body found in Cardiff, New York, in 1869. Many people believed it to be real, and it became a popular attraction. Years later, it was found to be a hoax led by George Hull to mock giants in religious beliefs.
Hoaxes
Over the centuries, we have fallen for many elaborate hoaxes. They show how vulnerable we are to deception in a world filled with ancient wonders that can sometimes be too bizarre to be real. We should question everything while remaining curious about what might be out there.
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