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Are there any records in the past about real people who possessed any superior powers? Extra strong, super fast, better than anyone else in something? I would like to know about someone like Goliath or Hercules, only about the actual real people.

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Sure, there are "records in the past". For example, Homer's Illiad and the Mahabharata :) – talonx Apr 23 '12 at 8:05
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You could say this about most athletes today, is there a purpose as to why you are looking for this? This seems like it belongs more on Skeptics, as to whether they ever existed, rather than in History. – MichaelF Apr 23 '12 at 10:21
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I'd like this question better without the "super". It kind of implies you are looking for flying or laser vision or something. – T.E.D.♦ Apr 23 '12 at 14:35
It's my opinion, but I feel that questions such as these tend to trivialize this site. – talonx Apr 24 '12 at 8:01

closed as off topic by ihtkwot♦, Steven Drennon♦ Apr 27 '12 at 15:48

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1 Answer

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Who's to say Goliath and Hercules weren't based on actual people? Goliath's description in the bible isn't even all that outlandish. Someone really large to an ancient Semite would probably still be dwarfed by your typical NBA center today. (Note - our earliest manuscripts give Goliath a size that would translate to about 6 foot 7 inches. Wikipedia says a typcial NBA center is between 6'10" (2.08 m) and 7'3" (2.21 m).

Gilgamesh appears to have been an actual king of Uruk. At least he's listed on their records. However, later Mesopotamian mythology and literature transformed him into a figure very much like Hercules and Samson.

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Good one, thanks! – Eugene Apr 23 '12 at 13:52
I am sure that Goliath existed. I am quite skeptical though about his exceptional features. – Anixx Apr 24 '12 at 15:20
@Anixx - Which "exeptional features" are you referring to? All we know from The Bible is that he was really big, and the Philistine Army's best warrior. None of that seems all that unlikely. Someone had to be considered the best, and it makes sense that it would be someone unsually large. – T.E.D.♦ Apr 24 '12 at 16:29

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