Orichalcum or aurichalcum is a metal mentioned in several ancient writings, including the story of Atlantis in the Critias of Plato. Within the dialogue, Critias (460–403 BC) says that orichalcum had been considered second only to gold in value and had been found and mined in many parts of Atlantis in ancient times, but that by Critias's own time, orichalcum was known only by name.
Fast forward to 2015 A group of naval archeologists had uncovered two hundred ingots spread over the sandy seafloor near a 2,600-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Sicily. The ingots were made from orichalcum!
The wreck was discovered in 1988, floating about 300 meters (1,000 ft) off the coast of Gela in Sicily in shallow waters. At the time of the shipwreck Gela was a rich city and had many factories that produced fine objects. Scientists believe that the pieces of orichalcum were destined for those laboratories when the ship sank.
The ingots have been analysed and found to be made of about 75-80 percent copper, 14-20 percent zinc and a scattering of nickel, lead, and iron.
Of course we do not add things like lead or nickel! :) Our Orichalcum is 75-80 copper and roughly 20 percent zinc and trace amounts of magnesium and silver for healthiness. Which produces a match in colour to the original.
Images : thearchaeologist.org
Here is a photo to illustrate the difference in colour between Orichalcum, Brass and Silver
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