Orichalcum, the legendary metal of Atlantis, has long captured the imagination of historians and treasure hunters alike. According to Plato, the lost continent of Atlantis was rich in orichalcum, a fire-colored metal second only to gold in value. The metal was said to adorn the buildings of Atlantis, including a Temple of Poseidon and a royal palace, giving them a radiant red glow.
In a recent discovery off the coast of Sicily, divers found dozens of orichalcum ingots in a 2,600-year-old shipwreck. These ingots, made of an alloy primarily consisting of copper and zinc, closely resembled the descriptions of orichalcum in ancient texts. Modern studies suggest that orichalcum was composed of around 80% copper and 20% zinc, with traces of other metals.
