Ancient ‘Atlantis’ Alloy From 2,600 Years Shipwreck Surfaces The Web

During our childhood, we can never deny that the magical story of Atlantis didn't tickle our imagination. The lost empire's story is way too mystical that it fueled a lot of studies to prove that it is more than just fiction. And year after years, we find videos and pictures depicting that the legend of Atlantis is indeed real.

There is an alloy, which according to Greek legend was mined on the ancient mythical island of Atlantis, has been discovered on a shipwreck which sank off the coast of Sicily 2,600 years ago.


Some 47 ingots of ‘orichalcum’ have so far been recovered from the ancient underwater find. An interesting video of the said discovery was making its rounds over the web.

"Atlantis is a fictional island mentioned within an allegory on the hubris of nations in Plato's works Timaeus and Critias, where it represents the antagonist naval power that besieges "Ancient Athens"' - Wikipedia

It was described as a brass-like illumination and made through the reaction of zinc ore, charcoal, and copper, the alloy has never before been discovered in such quantity. Discovered back in 2015, the ingots’ composition was revealed only after analysis using X-ray fluorescence, according to a report from Seeker. Two Corinthian helmets, believed to have been part of the ship’s defense against pirates, were also discovered at the shipwreck. An archaeologist and also the superintendent of the Sea at Palermo named Sebastiano Tusa is known to be involved in the discovery said that;

"Another hypothesis is that they were meant to be an offer to the gods, it was likely caught in a sudden storm and sank just when it was about to enter the port," - Sebastiano Tusa

Orichalcum or aurichalcum is a metal mentioned in several ancient writings, including the story of Atlantis in the Critias of Plato. Within the dialogue, Critias (460 – 403 BC) claims that orichalcum had been considered second only to gold in value and had been found and mined in many parts of Atlantis in ancient times, but that by Critias' own time orichalcum was known only by name.

 

It became legendary through the writings of the Greek philosopher Plato, who wrote that the material was mined in Atlantis, where it covered Poseidon’s temple. Along with the ingots 39, lumps of orichalcum were also recovered from the shipwreck, believed to have a sunken route from Greece to Gela in Sicily, a wealthy city, rich in artisan workshops. The seas around Sicily contain at least two other ancient shipwrecks, making it a priceless mine of archaeological finds.

Written by Kent McGrath, Lucis Philippines contributor.