Deep in the Colombian rainforest, shrouded by a canopy of trees, the city of El Dorado awaited discovery. Or, perhaps, it was in the southwestern U.S. Or was it a city at all?
During the 16th century, legends of a golden city spread through Europe like wildfire, especially after the discovery of the Aztec and Incan empires. This rumor continued to grow throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, ensnaring the imaginations of explorers like Sir Walter Raleigh and Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, who went searching for the mythical city, often with destructive results.
The story behind the legend of El Dorado is complicated, brutal and political, yet still remains a popular tale — and continues to capture the attention of researchers today.
The Birth of the El Dorado Tale
(Credit: Mariano Luis Fraga/Shutterstock)
