Eldorado: the myth
Eldorado or El Dorado (Spanish abbreviation for El indio Dorado) is a legendary place where immense quantities of gold and precious stones are said to be kept, as well as ancient esoteric knowledge. Originally called El Hombre Dorado ("The Golden Man") or El Rey Dorado ("The Golden King"), it was the term used by the Spanish in the 16th century to describe a mythical chieftain (zipa) or king of the Muisca people, an indigenous people of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia, who, as an initiation rite, covered himself in gold dust and immersed himself in the Guatavita lagoon.
The legends surrounding El Dorado have changed over time, from a man to a city, to a kingdom and finally to an empire, located beyond the known world, where humans lived contentedly, without material needs, often associated with the earthly paradise located at the antipodes. The myth of El Dorado captivated European explorers for centuries. In search of the legend, the Spanish conquistadors and numerous others explored what is now Colombia, Venezuela and parts of Guyana and northern Brazil, looking for the city and its fabled king. During these explorations, much of northern South America was mapped, including the Amazon River. By the early 19th century, the city's existence was dismissed as a myth.
It is precisely this myth that made it possible to realize our dream: to create the online store Eldorado Jewels where all our best collections of jewelry and watches can be found. Discover our catalog by clicking here.
