It is said of a lie, of a false story. The tradition traces its origins to the work of the Venetian merchant Marco Polo The Book of Wonders (written by the amanuensis Rustichello of Pisa in 1298), where he recounted a journey through China and the adventures lived. Since the Far East was unknown to Europeans, the whole story seemed fantastic to them, invented by the author, who swore it was true and no one believed him.