10 Famous People Who Never Actually Existed

2. Saint Christopher

Saint Christopher is such a venerated Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox and Anglican figure that he is often commemorated on necklaces and bracelets - yet the 3rd-Century martyr is probably fictional. Supposedly killed by Roman Emperor Decius in 251 AD or Emperor Maximinus II Dacian in 310 AD - yeah, it's already sounding a shaky story at best, isn't it? - Christopher is remembered as the patron saint of travellers.

"Christopher" - literally meaning "Christ-bearer" - is believed to have carried a child, who was unknown to him, across a great river before the small person spoke to him and told him he was Jesus. This is likely to be based on a Greek myth, though, and St Christopher probably never existed - or could in fact just be an alternative name used for Saint Menas.

The Roman Catholic Church have even removed the official St Christopher Day from their calendar, although his feast is often still observed by some followers of the faith.