Ancient records describe a special and valuable metal that has captured the imagination of scientists and explorers for centuries - orichalcum.. It was once considered mythical, but now its existence has been confirmed, because a sunken ship with this metal was found in the Mediterranean Sea, writes IFLScience.

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The name " Its most famous mention is in Plato's account of Atlantis, where it is described as " ] anything other than gold"

In his dialogue Critias, Plato details how Atlantis boasted orichalcum-coated structures that reflected a brilliant " In addition to Plato, the ancient texts of Cicero and Pliny the Elder mention the mysterious metal.

Scientists have long suspected that orichalcum was an early form of brass, a copper-zinc alloy.. Its exact nature remained a mystery until modern scientific advances brought clarity. In 2014, a diver off the coast of Gela, Sicily, found 40 orichalcum ingots at the site of an ancient shipwreck.. Further exploration in 2016 found another 47 ingots nearby.

Additional evidence has emerged from the study of ancient Roman coins. Although most coins from this era are made of gold, silver, bronze or copper, a 2019 study found something unusual.

Using electron microscope scanning, scientists have determined that some coins minted after Augustus' reforms in 23. BC. and Nero in 63-64. , contained a copper-zinc alloy with a zinc content of up to 30%, which corresponds to the characteristics of orichalcum.

Today, researchers understand that orichalcum was not a single, unique alloy, but a term used to refer to various copper-zinc mixtures. Its composition has varied over time, with varying levels of zinc, copper and impurities. Earl Radcliffe Cayley, a renowned historian of chemistry, explained in a 1964 article that orichalcum belongs to a class of alloys that are distinct from modern brass but serve as its ancient counterpart.

This discovery bridges the gap between myth and reality, offering greater insight into how ancient civilizations understood and used metallurgy.

Scientists continue to illuminate the ingenuity of early societies, proving that even the most fantastical legends can contain a kernel of truth..

Focus previously wrote about the burial of a court physician during the reign of Pharaoh Pepi II. Teti Neb Fu held many prestigious titles, including chief palace physician, chief dentist, and priest and “magician” of the goddess Serqet..

We also talked about the unexpected discovery of Turkish archaeologists. In western Turkey, researchers have discovered an ancient bathhouse that local residents used for years as stables..