Orichalcum

Discussion of Orichalcum in Plato’s Atlantis

Plato’s account of Atlantis mentions a mysterious metal known as orichalcum. He describes the use of this metal in the construction of the city’s walls and temples. The walls were coated with brass, tin, and orichalcum, which sparkled like fire. This metal is said to have been of great value, second only to gold.

Pliny the Elder’s Reference

Pliny the Elder, in his work Natural History, refers to orichalcum, describing it as a metal that was once in high demand but had since become scarce. He suggests that the earth had been exhausted of this metal, indicating it might have been a naturally occurring regional alloy.

Hypotheses About Orichalcum

Several hypotheses exist regarding orichalcum’s composition. It could have been a naturally occurring alloy, or it may have been a man-made additive that was lost to history. Its scarcity could be due to the disappearance of the people who knew how to produce it.

Additional References

Other ancient texts mention orichalcum. Virgil’s Aeneid describes armor made from a blend of gold and orichalcum. In Homeric mythology, orichalcum is also referenced in relation to Aphrodite’s jewelry, further supporting the idea that it was considered valuable.

Discovery of Orichalcum in Shipwrecks

In 2015, a Greek shipwreck off the coast of Sicily yielded 29 ingots made of a copper-zinc alloy. Many historians believe these ingots could be orichalcum. Another shipwreck in 2017 revealed 47 more ingots of the same composition, reinforcing the possibility that this metal is orichalcum. However, some scholars remain cautious about confirming this theory.

Conclusion

Although there is still uncertainty about the true nature of orichalcum, the evidence found in ancient texts and shipwrecks suggests that it was a valuable metal in antiquity. Whether it was used in the construction of Atlantis or is merely a lost copper alloy, it remains a mystery that continues to intrigue historians.