El Dorado at the British Museum

Europeans have long been fascinated by the legend of El Dorado, the lost city of gold. Over the years many excavations have been carried out which were mostly justly rewarded with ample amount of artifacts including gold, ceramics and stone necklace.

The legend has it that the El Dorado which literally means “the golden one” refers to the actual ritual of initiation whereby a newly elected leader, covered in powdered gold and wearing a massive amount of golden ornaments, would dive in the Lake Guatavita in Bogota. He would then emerged and be proclaimed the new chief of the Muisca people of present-day Columbia.

It was also customary for the Muisca tribe to throw in gold gifts into the lake to please their god.

This legend so tickled explorers that they have tried draining the lake several times over. But nature has a way of protecting itself! Heavy rainfall would fill the lake faster than it could be drained. 🙂 So they have not been able to explore the bottom of the lake, I think!

Lucky us Brits, we do not have to go traipsing or diving into the Lake Guatavita as some of the beautiful and intricate works of art of the Muisca people are now being exhibited for a limited period at the British Museum.