El Dorado

El Dorado is a legendary place from Lake Parime, Guyana, dated to ~1500 AD (Early Modern era). It connects to 3 other myths and legends in the Mythosjourney atlas.

The legend of El Dorado began with tales of a South American king who covered himself in gold dust before washing in a sacred lake. Spanish colonists in the 16th century called him "The Golden One," a name that later came to represent an entire mythical city of gold. The story may have originated with the Muisca people of Colombia, skilled goldsmiths known for using golden objects in their ceremonies.

After Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada conquered their territory in 1537, numerous expeditions searched for El Dorado across South America. These included ventures by Antonio de Berrio and Walter Raleigh, who followed reports of a great Lake Parime. The lake appeared on maps until the early 19th century, when Alexander von Humboldt proved it didn't exist.

Though the city was never found, the legend of El Dorado continues to influence popular culture, from Voltaire's Candide to modern films, games, and music.