Bridging the gap between myth and reality, the secret of the legendary metal from Atlantis has finally been revealed.

Ancient records describe a unique and precious metal that has captivated the imagination of scholars and explorers for centuries — orichalcum. Once considered mythical, its existence has now been confirmed with the discovery of a sunken ship in the Mediterranean Sea that contained this metal, writes IFLScience.

The term "orichalcum" originates from Greek words meaning "mountain copper." The most well-known mention of it is found in Plato's account of Atlantis, where it is described as "more precious than [...] anything except gold."

In his dialogue "Critias," Plato elaborates on how Atlantis boasted structures adorned with orichalcum that reflected a bright "red light." Besides Plato, ancient texts by Cicero and Pliny the Elder also reference this mysterious metal.

For a long time, scholars speculated that orichalcum was an early form of brass—a copper-zinc alloy. Its precise nature remained a mystery until modern scientific advancements shed light on the subject. In 2014, a diver off the coast of Gela, Sicily, discovered 40 ingots of orichalcum at the site of an ancient shipwreck. Further investigation in 2016 uncovered an additional 47 ingots nearby.

Additional evidence emerged from the study of ancient Roman coins. While most coins from that era were made of gold, silver, bronze, or copper, a 2019 study revealed something unusual.

Using electron microscopy scanning, researchers found that some coins minted after the reforms of Augustus in 23 BC and Nero in AD 63-64 contained a copper-zinc alloy with zinc content of up to 30%, aligning with the characteristics of orichalcum.

Today, researchers understand that orichalcum was not a singular, unique alloy, but rather a term used to describe various copper-zinc mixtures. Its composition varied over time, with differing levels of zinc, copper, and impurities. Earl Redcliffe Keily, a noted historian of chemistry, explained in a 1964 article that orichalcum belongs to a class of alloys distinct from modern brass but serves as its ancient counterpart.

This discovery bridges the gap between myth and reality, offering a deeper understanding of how ancient civilizations perceived and utilized metallurgy. Scholars continue to illuminate the ingenuity of early societies, proving that even the most fantastical legends may contain a kernel of truth.

We also reported on the unexpected discovery by Turkish archaeologists. In western Turkey, researchers uncovered an ancient bath that local residents had used as stables for years.