The mythical metal Orichalcum, found on a sandy seabed near the city of Gela, may be further evidence of the existence of Atlantis.
According to the ancient Greeks, this metal was mined in Atlantis. It was discovered aboard a ship that sank about 2,600 years ago off the southern coast of Sicily. Marine archaeologists have found 39 ingots of an unknown metal, which they believe is the mysterious "orichalcum", among the wrecks of a merchant ship at a depth of about 300 meters off the coast of Gela. Experts believe the ship was on its way with cargo from Greece or Asia Minor when a storm caught it and sank.
According to Professor Sebastiano Tus, an archaeologist specializing in the study of the seabed in the Sicilian region, the discovered metal may very likely be a mythical orichalcum, which was highly prized at that time. Analysis of metal ingots showed that they are 75-80% copper, 15-20% zinc and also contain small amounts of nickel, lead and iron, writes The Daily Mail.
“Nothing similar has been found before. We knew about orichalcum from ancient texts and several decorative objects,”Professor Tusa told Discovery News.
If the discovered metal is indeed a mythical orichalcum, then this speaks in support of the legend of Atlantis.
The existence of this island is the subject of widespread debate among historians and archaeologists. Some of them consider it completely fictional, while others argue that the Atlas Island stories may have been based on a real historical site that went under water due to rising sea levels or a tsunami.
Much of the legend of Atlantis is reflected in the works of the Greek philosopher Plato, who describes a great people who were immersed in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean due to the displeasure of the gods. Plato mentions orichalcum in dialogue with Critias and describes Atlantis as a place rich in metal with a “red tint”. He writes that orichalcum was highly valued and was second only to gold in value. It was mined on a mythical island and covered the walls of the temple of Poseidon with it.
Previously, scientists believed that we are talking about brass, which is made from copper and zinc. Orichalcum is believed to have been produced through a process called carburizing, which involves reacting zinc ores with charcoal and copper.
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