Which Ancient Historical Figures can be proven to have actually existed?

[tomspug]

Many people do not consider the Bible to be a credible historical source because it contains a second-hand account or third-hand account of history, possibly hundreds of years after the events have occurred.

Using this criteria to determine credible history, exactly how many ancient historical figures (which are taught about in history classes) can be proven to have existed using nothing but first-hand accounts found by archeologists?

[Dunemeister]

If you're talking about ancient historical figures, precious few.

[whereismynotecard]

I cannot say that I believe that anyone who I didn't actually meet in real life has actually existed. They may have existed, but I wouldn't claim that I believe 100% for sure that they did.

[Autodidact]

*sigh* As I have probably said 100 times, it isn't a matter of proof, but of evidence. The question is whether there is sufficient evidence. For example, for Julius Ceasar, we have, among other things, hundreds of these:

It is difficult to imagine Rome minting coins depicting a non-existent Emperor, so these, together with statutes, written histories, and Ceasar's own diaries, taken altogether, serve as excellent evidence that there was such an Emperor of Rome.

For Jesus, as another example, we have no depiction, nothing written by anyone during his lifetime, nothing written by anyone who ever saw him, nothing written by him, really nothing but at least 3 generations of word of mouth, in a time when there was no library where you could look up an old newspaper to verify anything, so it's much, much, less reliable.

[tomspug]

So... Julius Caesar... That makes sense, since the culture made a conscious effort to preserve itself. But he falls on the tail end of ancient history.

But it's funny that you switch up the argument, saying that it's 'not a matter' of the points I bring up, when there is PLENTY of physical, written evidence for the existence of Jesus and his crucifixion (including Roman accounts). So I don't exactly understand how Julius Caesar is any different from Jesus.

Not that I wanted to make this a discussion about Jesus, who also falls on the tail end of ancient history. Jesus is an anomaly, because most Biblical figures fall into a hierarchy of either kings, priests, and prophets, which were well-documented by their culture. I'd prefer to focus more on the Old Testament, I guess.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by tomspug

Many people do not consider the Bible to be a credible historical source because it contains a second-hand account or third-hand account of history, ...

No, they question its credibility because it contains 2nd and 3rd hand accounts of the incredible.

[Autodidact]

Originally Posted by tomspug

So... Julius Caesar... That makes sense, since the culture made a conscious effort to preserve itself. But he falls on the tail end of ancient history.

But it's funny that you switch up the argument, saying that it's 'not a matter' of the points I bring up, when there is PLENTY of physical, written evidence for the existence of Jesus and his crucifixion (including Roman accounts). So I don't exactly understand how Julius Caesar is any different from Jesus.

Not that I wanted to make this a discussion about Jesus, who also falls on the tail end of ancient history. Jesus is an anomaly, because most Biblical figures fall into a hierarchy of either kings, priests, and prophets, which were well-documented by their culture. I'd prefer to focus more on the Old Testament, I guess.

O.K., so give an example of a Biblical account that you consider historical, and a figure from ancient history that is recognized, that you think is comparable. For example, did you mean like King David type thing? or like Noah type thing?

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Autodidact

*
It is difficult to imagine Rome minting coins depicting a non-existent Emperor, so these, together with statutes, written histories, and Ceasar's own diaries, taken altogether, serve as excellent evidence that there was such an Emperor of Rome.

Cool, so centaurs were real, after all we have plenty of these;