Orichalcum, the legendary metal often associated with the lost continent of Atlantis, has long captured the imagination of historians and treasure hunters alike. According to Plato, the iconic Greek philosopher, orichalcum was a prized metal second only to gold in value. Descriptions of Atlantis in Plato's Critias dialogue paint a picture of a land where buildings, including a Temple of Poseidon and royal palace, were adorned with orichalcum, giving them a distinctive red glow.
The recent discovery of orichalcum ingots in a 2,600-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Sicily reignited interest in this mysterious metal. A diver named Francesco Cassarino stumbled upon 40 ingots in December 2014, with an additional 47 ingots found in the same area in February 2016. Analysis revealed that the ingots were made of an alloy primarily composed of copper and zinc, resembling the characteristics described by Plato.
