Legendary ‘Orichalcum Metal’ Related To Atlantis Found In 2,600-Year-Old Shipwreck
Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - A shipwreck sunk 2,600 years ago, off the coast of Gela in southern Sicily and the story of this ship is still fascinating today.
The ship - dated to the first half of the sixth century - was on its way to Gela in Sicily, possibly coming from Greece or Asia Minor.
Ingots of orichalcum found in the shipwreck. Image via Accénto.it
It was carrying ingots of orichalcum, ancient gleaming metal, which according to ancient Greeks was supposed to be mined in the legendary Atlantis, a land we have never been able to localize.
In 2015, underwater archaeologists recovered 39 orichalcum lumps from the shipwreck and earlier this month, additionally 47 pieces of this precious alloy have emerged from the seas of Sicily, reports Seeker.
Shipwreck found off the coast of Gela in southern Sicily
"The ship dates to the end the sixth century B.C.," said Sebastiano Tusa, an archaeologist and and Sicily's superintendent of the sea, said.
"It was likely caught in a sudden storm and sunk just when it was about to enter the port."
According to the ancient Greeks, it was invented by Cadmus, a Greek-Phoenician mythological character. The fourth century B.C. Greek philosopher Plato made orichalcum a legendary metal when he mentioned it in the Critias dialogue (460-403 BC).
See also:
Hyperborea Or Atlantis Ruins – Underground Secrets Of The Sacred Lake On The Arctic Circle
Bolivia And The Mystery Of The Twins Of Atlantis
Plato wrote that the metal, second only in value to gold, was mined in Atlantis and was used to cover Poseidon’s temple interior walls, columns and floors. A legend says that the temple stood on pillar made of orichalcum and inscribed with Poseidon's laws.
Today, most scholars agree orichalcum is a brass-like alloy, which was made in antiquity by cementation. This process was achieved with the reaction of zinc ore, charcoal and copper metal in a crucible.
Using X-ray fluorescence, researchers have analyzed the 39 ingots and concluded that they are made with 75-80 percent copper, 15-20 percent zinc and small percentages of nickel, lead and iron.
This brass-like alloy was perhaps not as precious as Plato described it; however, it was valuable enough to be used by skilled craftsmen in workshops of the ancient city of Gela.
Written by Conny Waters - AncientPages.com Staff Writer
More From Ancient Pages
-
The Word Freelancer Originates From Medieval Mercenary Knights
Ancient History Facts | Feb 25, 2016
-
Hedeby: Prestigious Trading Center And One Of The Largest Baltic Sea Ports In Viking Age
Featured Stories | Jun 18, 2016
-
Zyndram’s Hill: Oldest-Known Stone Wall – A Masterpiece Of Architecture Found In Poland
Civilizations | Sep 15, 2015
-
Mysterious Mohenjo Daro Was Home To An Unknown Advanced Civilization Far Ahead Of Its Time
Civilizations | Apr 2, 2014
-
Fomorians In Irish Myths And Legends: Race Of Demonic Giants Who Inhabited Ireland And Scotland
Celtic Mythology | May 20, 2017
-
Long-Forgotten Ancient Book Contains Extensive Scientific Survey Of North America Made 4,500 Years Ago
Featured Stories | Jul 26, 2019
-
A Four-Century-Old Ship Found In Stockholm Belonged To King Gustav II Adolf’s Fleet
Archaeology | Sep 11, 2017
-
On This Day In History: Isaac Asimov Creator Of Science Fiction Was Born – On Jan 2, 1920
News | Jan 2, 2017
-
Did Neanderthals And Modern Humans Meet In The Czech Republic 50,000 Years Ago?
Archaeology | Jun 17, 2017
-
Rare Minoan Sealstone Is A Miniature Masterpiece Unearthed In 3,500-Year-Old Tomb Of Powerful Mycenaean Warrior
Archaeology | Nov 8, 2017
-
65 Byzantine-Era Tombs Unearthed In Stratonikeia – World’s Largest Marble City
Archaeology | Feb 24, 2017
-
Rare 3,000-Year-Old Gold Bead Found On Temple Mount By Young Boy
Archaeology | Nov 30, 2020
-
Large Mammoth Tusk And Bones Buried For Thousands Of Years Found In North Dakota
News | Jan 8, 2024
-
Beautiful Legend Of Giant Olentzero Who Brings Christmas Presents To Basque Children
Ancient Traditions And Customs | Dec 19, 2020
-
First Insight Into 3,500-Year-Old Cuisine Of The Enigmatic Nok Culture
Archaeology | Jan 17, 2022
-
Beethoven’s Genome Offers Clues To Composer’s Health And Family History
DNA | Mar 27, 2023
-
Thor And Tyr Journey To Hymir’s Hall To Steal Huge Cauldron – In Norse Mythology
Featured Stories | Jun 6, 2023
-
Oseberg Ship: Amazingly Well-Preserved Viking Burial Ship
Featured Stories | Jun 15, 2016
-
What Was It Like To Be A Student In The Middle Ages?
Ancient History Facts | Jun 6, 2019
-
Ancient Great City Of Ani: Lost Capital Of The Kingdom Of Armenia And Its Mysterious Underground Tunnels
Featured Stories | Feb 18, 2016