There are, at least, three versions of reality: 1) that which actually occurred, 2) history as our attempts to most accurately reconstruct that which actually occurred and 3) symbolic or mythological reconstructions which contain historical aspects but are concocted so as to make a point.
For example, who the historical Semiramis was is one issue. However, when discerning the manner whereby her name has been employed through the years we find that understanding the reality of her persona, 1) above, is different from understanding what has been made of her, 3) above.