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For thousands of years, explorers have recounted stories of enchanting lost civilizations and mythical hidden realms. These narratives have persisted through time, captivating minds even in the modern era. The earliest accounts of extraordinary journeys to undiscovered lands and cultures emerged during a period when vast portions of the world remained mysterious, and the impossible seemed within reach. From Plato’s account of Atlantis to Mandeville’s descriptions of dog-headed beings, the societies that embraced these tales had little reason to question their validity.
Even by the time Gulliver’s Travels was released in 1726, large regions of the globe – including Australia, Africa, South America, and much of Asia – were still largely unexplored. As late as the 1800s, the genre of “lost world” adventures flourished through the works of Jules Verne, H. Rider Haggard, Arthur Conan Doyle, and H. G. Wells – despite the growing realization that the places they described were purely fictional. Today, while the charm of these tales has diminished, the magnetic appeal of these legends lingers in our hearts and collective consciousness, waiting to inspire future generations to seek adventure.
10. Lemuria
Lemuria, also known as Mu, is believed to be a submerged continent now resting beneath the Indian or Pacific Ocean. Madame Blavatsky, a renowned Theosophist, described the Lemurians as telepathic, ape-like giants. In the book “The Lost Continent of Mu,” an author proposed that humanity originated from Mu, a landmass stretching from Hawaii to Easter Island and Fiji. Allegedly, a massive earthquake obliterated the continent 12,000 years ago, causing it to vanish beneath the waves.
Today, the Stelle group in the United States asserts their lineage traces back to the Lemurians. This group believes the Lemurians fled Earth after the cataclysm and have since been influencing the fates of select groups, including their own.
9. Cibola
In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors scoured North America in pursuit of the legendary seven Cities of Cibola, renowned for their opulence and splendor. Cibola may have been connected to Aztlan, the land of seven caves from which the Aztecs reportedly migrated to Mexico. Antonio de Mendoza, Viceroy of New Spain, launched the first expedition to locate these lost cities in 1539 after a friar claimed to have seen them on the horizon.
In 1540, a second expedition led by Francisco de Coronado was dispatched. Upon meeting the Hopi tribe, the Spaniards learned that the Hopi had long awaited the return of Pahana, the White Brother. The expedition ventured as far as Texas but failed to discover any of the legendary golden cities. This tale bears a striking resemblance to the myth of El Dorado.
8. Shambala
Shambala, a Sanskrit term, refers to a mythical realm nestled among snow-capped mountains, with a radiant golden city at its heart. This elusive land has been sought after across various regions, from the Gobi Desert to Tibet, and from Afghanistan to China’s Kun Lun Mountains, yet no explorer has succeeded in finding it. Some expeditions have vanished without a trace. It is said that even flying over Shambala in an aircraft might not reveal it, as its boundaries are meticulously concealed from view.
In 1928, Nicholas Roerich, the designer of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring ballet, was informed by a lama that Shambala exists in another dimension. Only those spiritually attuned can locate it, as its discovery lies entirely within the mind. Roerich also encountered a mysterious lama on the Darjeeling-Ghum road in India, and monks later revealed that this lama originated from Shambala.
7. Agharti
According to ancient legends, Agharti is a subterranean realm connected to every corner of the globe through a vast network of tunnels. This mythical land is said to be inhabited by serene and benevolent beings who strive to temper the excesses of those living on the surface. The origins of this tale are believed to be incredibly ancient.
Plato once described a system of wide and narrow tunnels beneath the earth, ruled by a magnificent sovereign seated at the planet’s core. Centuries later, Pliny wrote about people who sought refuge underground after the fall of Atlantis. Some esoteric traditions maintain that Agharti is real, asserting that the Atlanteans escaped to Asia, where they carved tunnels beneath the Himalayas, biding their time until they could rise again to reclaim global dominance.
6. Hy-Brasil
For centuries, Europeans were captivated by the legend of a mythical land believed to lie beyond the treacherous Western Ocean. Irish folklore speaks of Hy-Brasil, a mist-shrouded island visible only once every seven years but forever out of reach. Numerous expeditions set sail from Bristol in the 1480s, yet none returned with evidence of this elusive island.
In 1674, Captain John Nisbet reported sighting the island while traveling between Ireland and France. He described it as home to large black rabbits and a magician residing in a stone castle. Modern theories propose that Hy-Brasil might correspond to Porcupine Bank, a real underwater ridge located approximately 200 kilometers west of Ireland.
5. Lyonesse
Lyonesse, the homeland of Sir Tristan, a knight from King Arthur’s legendary round table, is a mythical land in Arthurian lore believed to lie near Cornwall, though its precise location remains a mystery. Like the Celtic tale of the sunken city of Ys, Lyonesse is said to have vanished beneath the waves. Lord Tennyson depicted it as the setting for Arthur’s final battle, where he suffered a fatal wound.
The tale of Lyonesse’s submersion appears in both Cornish and Breton folklore, suggesting it may be a remarkable example of oral tradition and collective memory. Scholars theorize that the story could stem from historical floods in the Isles of Sicily and Mount’s Bay near Penzance. Today, Lyonesse is deeply tied to Cornwall’s heritage, making its association with the Isles of Scilly a natural conclusion. Along the coast, remnants of an ancient forest, including fossilized beech trees still bearing nuts, can still be found.
4. Cantre’r Gwaelod
Cantre’r Gwaelod, often called the Welsh Atlantis, is a legendary sunken kingdom said to have existed between Ramsey Island and Bardsley Island off the coast of Wales. This mythical realm appears in folklore, literature, and songs, with many believing it lies beneath Cardigan Bay. According to the most famous legend, the land was protected by a seawall, but Prince Seithenyn, known for his drunkenness and womanizing, neglected his duty, allowing the sea to breach the defenses and destroy the kingdom. While no concrete evidence of Cantre’r Gwaelod has been found, there have been numerous reports of submerged human settlements, stone walls, and pathways in the area.
3. Atlantis
Atlantis, arguably the most renowned lost city, is said to have met its end 10,000 years ago, vanishing overnight due to earthquakes and a catastrophic flood. Some researchers argue that Atlantis was real, spanning parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Others suggest that its survivors were behind the creation of Stonehenge and the pyramids. Plato described Atlantis as a kingdom governed by ten rulers, featuring advanced amenities like hot and cold running water in the royal palace, and a grand temple on the central island dedicated to Poseidon and Cleito.
Many proponents of Atlantis point to the island of Antilia, depicted on 15th-century Portuguese maps, as potential evidence of its existence. Others theorize that Plato’s tale was inspired by the eruption of Thera, which devastated the Minoan civilization on Crete. With researchers divided on the subject, the mystery of Atlantis remains unresolved, leaving us to explore the evidence and form our own conclusions until definitive proof is discovered.
2. Avalon
Many scholars trace the name Avalon to the Welsh word afal, meaning apple. This mythical island is renowned as the birthplace of King Arthur’s sword Excalibur (Caliburnus) and the sanctuary where Arthur was taken to heal after the Battle of Camlann. According to Welsh, Cornish, and Breton legends, Arthur did not die but will one day return to lead his people. In 1190, Avalon became linked to Glastonbury when monks at Glastonbury Abbey claimed to have discovered Arthur’s remains and those of his queen. Gerald of Wales wrote that Glastonbury was once known as the Isle of Avalon. Centuries earlier, the area was called Ynys Gutrin, meaning “Island of Glass” in Welsh, a name later adapted by the Saxons into ‘Glastingebury’.
1. El Dorado
During the 16th-century Spanish conquest of Mexico, tales spread of a magnificent city made of gold, ruled by a priest-king known as El Dorado, or the Gilded King, whose body was said to be coated in gold dust. Francisco Pizarro, who invaded Peru, infamously crushed the Inca civilization through a series of brutal and deceitful acts. Although he eventually found some gold, it brought him no fortune—he was assassinated in 1541.
While certain evidence lends credibility to the legend, no definitive proof of El Dorado’s existence has ever been found. Over time, it evolved into a mythical symbol of a golden city hidden somewhere in the Americas. For centuries, Europeans relentlessly pursued this fabled treasure, leading to the exploitation and devastation of the New World and its people. To this day, many remain convinced that the city of gold is real, awaiting discovery by a fortunate explorer at the perfect moment.
