>Sure those tales were told, but telling and seeing for yourself are two very different things.

True. The new medium is definitly more powerfull (therefore, like you say, the end result is more convincing), but conceptually they are the same.

>Back then it was but a few who actually SAW all this new (then) stuff, and in the relating of it to others those others would also have been comparatively few but, more importantly, the listeners would have to view these "wonders" in the context of what they already know.

Also true, however painting and sculpture have existed, as did Zoos and Museuems, and great libraries, like that of Alexander's.

Could you imagine living in the Far East 2000 years ago and seeing travellers come home with arts from Europe and animals like Giraffes from Africa? A giraffe, what a bizarre creature to someone who has never seen such a thing!

>These became myths that were shrugged off as they got back quickly to daily life.

Possible. Although its hard to say for sure (remember the year 2020 prediction in this thread?)