14 Times the Truth Was Stranger Than the Myth
Real life has delivered events so strange and specific that no myth or legend could compete with their facts.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
Many people assume myths are exaggerated versions of truth. However, history shows that reality can be just as unusual, if not more. These 14 events actually happened, and they show how strange the real world can be.
1. Napoleon Was Swarmed by Rabbits
Andrea Appiani on Wikimedia Commons
In 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte organized a rabbit hunt for himself and his men. His staff collected several hundred tame rabbits and released them in a field. Instead of running away, the rabbits ran toward the group, likely thinking they were being fed. The animals surrounded Napoleon, and he had to retreat to his carriage to escape them.
2. The Dancing Plague of 1518
Pieter Brueghel the Younger on Wikimedia Commons
In July 1518, a woman in Strasbourg (now in France) began dancing in the street and could not stop. Over the next weeks, dozens of others joined her, also dancing uncontrollably. Some danced for days and several reportedly died from exhaustion. Historians still debate the cause, but theories include stress-induced mass hysteria or food poisoning from mold.
3. A Dead Pope Was Put on Trial
Artaud de Montor on Wikimedia Commons
In 897, Pope Stephen VI held a trial for Pope Formosus, who had died the year before. Formosus’s body was exhumed, dressed in papal robes, and placed on a throne in court. The corpse was charged with violating church law, found guilty, and stripped of its garments. His body was thrown into the Tiber River afterward.
4. Australia Went to War with Emus
Kgbo on Wikimedia Commons
In 1932, the Australian government tried to reduce emu populations that were damaging crops in Western Australia. Soldiers used machine guns to kill the birds but found them hard to hit due to their speed and spread across large areas. After several failed attempts and thousands of rounds fired, the operation ended without achieving its goal. The emus remained and the effort became known as the Emu War.
5. The Trojan Horse May Have Been a Boat
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo on Wikimedia Commons
Some historians believe the Trojan Horse story may have referred to a siege engine or a ship, not a wooden animal. In ancient Greek, the word used for “horse” could also mean a type of transport or war device. The symbolic horse might have represented something practical, like a battering ram or hidden attack ship. There is no archaeological evidence confirming a literal wooden horse.
6. Vikings Were Concerned with Cleanliness
Capranesi, Giovanni on Wikimedia Commons
Contrary to popular belief, Vikings maintained personal hygiene. Archaeologists have found grooming tools such as combs, tweezers, and razors in Viking graves. Written sources from the time note that Vikings bathed more often than many other Europeans. Weekly bathing and hair care were common in their culture.
7. Cleopatra Was Greek, Not Egyptian
Élisabeth Sophie Chéron on Wikimedia Commons
Cleopatra VII, the last ruler of ancient Egypt, was of Macedonian Greek descent. Her family, the Ptolemies, ruled Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great. She was the first of her dynasty to learn the Egyptian language and identify closely with local traditions. Despite being the queen of Egypt, her ancestry was entirely Greek.
8. Einstein Declined to Become President of Israel
Orren Jack Turner on Wikimedia Commons
In 1952, Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel following the death of its first president, Chaim Weizmann. The Israeli government saw Einstein as a symbolic and respected figure. He declined the offer, stating that he lacked the natural ability and experience to deal with people politically. Einstein remained focused on science and academic work.
9. Rasputin Survived Multiple Assassination Attempts
Materialscientist on Wikimedia Commons
Grigori Rasputin, a Russian mystic close to the royal family, was targeted for assassination in 1916. He was reportedly poisoned with cyanide, then shot multiple times, and finally drowned. Accounts from the time suggest that he appeared to survive the poison and bullets before dying in the water. The full truth remains unclear, but the attempts to kill him were extensive.
10. A Dog Was Elected Mayor in a U.S. Town
Kintaiyo on Wikimedia Commons
The town of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, has a tradition of electing dogs as ceremonial mayors. The practice began in 1998 as a fundraiser for the local historical society. While the position holds no actual political power, residents vote and treat the dog as a community figure. Several dogs have held the role over the years.
11. The Eiffel Tower Changes Height with Temperature
Eiffel tower on Wikimedia Commons
The Eiffel Tower is made of iron, which expands in heat and contracts in cold. As a result, it can grow taller by up to 15 centimeters in the summer. This is due to thermal expansion, a known physical effect on metal structures. The tower returns to its original height as temperatures drop.
12. Hitler’s Nephew Fought for the United States
Heinrich Hoffman on Wikimedia Commons
William Patrick Hitler, the nephew of Adolf Hitler, moved to the United States before World War II. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 after being personally approved by President Roosevelt. After the war, he changed his surname and lived quietly in New York. He later ran a business and avoided publicity.
13. The CIA Tried to Use Cats for Spying
cia on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1960s, the CIA launched a project called Acoustic Kitty. It involved surgically implanting listening devices into cats to spy on Soviet officials. The first test failed when the cat ran into traffic and died shortly after being released. The project was abandoned due to high costs and impractical results.
14. A War Lasted 335 Years Without a Single Casualty
Thure de Thulstrup on Wikimedia Commons
The Isles of Scilly and the Netherlands were officially at war from 1651 to 1986. The conflict began due to shifting alliances during the English Civil War. No battles were fought, and the war was eventually forgotten. A peace treaty was signed in 1986 to formally end it.