Top 14+ Lost Cities That Continue To Fascinate Historians

Lyonesse

According to legend, Lyonesse connected the Isles of Scilly to the western part of Cornwall. It was an important slice of land known for its gorgeous inhabitants, 140 churches, and lush soil. But on one fateful night, it became a victim of the sea.

Lyonesse: The Bells Are Still Ringing

Since the alleged loss of Lyonesse, there have been reports of bells ringing along Cornwall's West Coast. The lost city has surfaced in written texts like the Arthurian legend of Tristan and Iseult, as well as Celtic mythology.

Iram Of The Pillars

Iram of the Pillars is an alleged lost city in the Arabian Desert. Similar to Atlantis, this city existed hundreds of years ago and was supposedly a paradise. 

Iram Of The Pillars: Lost In The Desert

Whispers of Iram of the Pillars echo through the Qur'an and ancient tales, hinting at a once-glorious city swallowed by endless sands—its secrets buried, perhaps, forever lost to time.

Lothal

Lothal is a lost city in India—once part of the ancient Indus Valley civilization. However, Lothal isn't completely lost. A portion of the city has been discovered and excavated, and yet it is still steeped in mystery.

Lothal: It Has A Dark Meaning

Part of the superstition surrounding Lothal has to do with its name, which means "the mound of the dead." According to speculation, the city was once an important center for farming, trade, and capitalism. However, the fate of Lothal—and why the city fell to ruin—remains unknown.

El Dorado

El Dorado might be the most famous lost city of all. For decades, its tantalizing legend has attracted treasure hunters and explorers. After all, it's known for its unbelievable riches—a city rumored to be filled with gold.

El Dorado: The King Wore Gold Dust

Spanish Conquistadors ventured deep into the Andes in search of El Dorado, drawn by legends of a king bathed in gold dust. Mysteriously, the city vanished around that very time.

El Dorado: Explorers Can't Find It

Many explorers have tried and failed to locate El Dorado: Gonzalo Pizarro, Francisco de Orellana, Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada. 

El Dorado: Found Along The Way

Though many doubt that the golden city of El Dorado is even real, many other lost cities have been discovered in the attempt to find it. There is still hope.

Kalahari

The lost city of Kalahari may, or may not, have existed. The region where it's believed to be buried is far-reaching. The Kalahari Desert covers 350,000 square miles, and reaches South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.

Kalahari: The Search Began

In 1885, explorer William Leonard stunned the world with a bold claim: he’d discovered a lost civilization hidden in the Kalahari Desert. Since then, nearly 30 expeditions have ventured into the sands, chasing whispers of a forgotten world.

Kalahari: An Honest Mistake

Although nothing substantiating has been uncovered, some strange rock formations point to a possible explanation. Some believe that these rock formations may have sparked the original legend, as they look like city walls.

The Lost City Of Z

Colonel Percy Fawcett made an intriguing discovery in 1920. At the National Library of Rio De Janeiro, he found a document from 1753 that had been written by a Portuguese explorer.

The Lost City Of Z: Deep In The Jungle

This Portuguese explorer claimed to have found a lost city, which he called the Lost City of Z. It was located in the Amazon rainforest's Mato Grosso region.

The Lost City Of Z: Shocking Descriptions

According to the explorer’s account, the Lost City of Z featured towering multi-storied structures, winding roads, and grand stone arches—hints of a civilization both vast and mysterious.

The Lost City Of Z: A Dangerous Mission

After finding this manuscript, Colonel Percy Fawcett set out on a mission to find the lost city. He and his team went into the depths of the Matto Grosso jungle... but they were never seen again.

The Lost City Of Z: They Were Never Found

The disappearance of Colonel Percy Fawcett and his crew made history. Tragically, although rescue efforts were made to find the lost explorers, none were successful.

Thinis

Egypt has many lost cities, but Thinis was especially powerful as it was the capital throughout Ancient Egypt's first dynasty. Historical records reveal that the city didn't survive after Memphis became the capital instead.

Thinis: There Are Many References To It

There's good reason to believe that Thinis was far more than just a legend. Proof of its existence can be found in the Egyptian Book of the Dead. It has also been written about by numerous authors, including the Egyptian priest Manetho. 

Thinis: Still Out There Somewhere

It's important to note that early Egyptians referred to the city as Tjenu. Though it's believed to be near Abydos, its archaeological site has never been discovered.

Atlantis

Over 2,000 years ago, Plato recounted the popular legend of Atlantis. Established by those were half human and half god, this powerful civilization was pulled into the depths of the sea. All of its people and rumored gold were lost.

Atlantis: Fact Or Fiction?

As sensational and alluring as the story of Atlantis is, there is a good chance that it's simply one of Plato's fictional tales. According to the philosopher, Atlantis was quite sizable—comparable to northern Africa and part of Turkey.

Atlantis: Has Its Roots In Greek Mythology

The name Atlantis traces back to Greek mythology, where Atlas, son of Poseidon, lent his name to the Atlantic Ocean—linking legend and geography in a timeless tale.

Ubar

Also known as the Atlantis of the Sands, the city of Ubar is one of Dubai's greatest legends. As the story goes, God brought it to ruin, and it remains lost beneath the desert sands.

Ubar: It May Already Have Been Found

Archaologists have speculated that Ubar may have been more like a region than a city. The estimated time period ranges from 2,800 BC to 300 AD.

Some believe that the ruins of Shisr might actually be Ubar, but there's still no way to authenticate this theory.

Thule

The Greek explorer Pytheas is responsible for the legend of Thule. He described a mystical land where the sun doesn't set in the summer and never rises in the winter. 

Thule: It Was A Mystery To Them

Pytheas’s account of Thule closely matched the landscapes of Nordic lands—yet for Mediterranean peoples of his era, it remained an enigmatic and distant mystery.

Thule: Some Say It's Greenland Or Iceland

Therefore, many believe that Pytheas was simply describing what we know now as Greenland or Iceland. Others, however, aren't too sure—and theorize that the real Thule is still out there.

Aztlan

Aztlan is considered the origin place of the Aztecs—but it has never been found. Its name means "place of herons" or "place of whiteness," which coincides with the stunning descriptions of the city.

Aztlan: The Animals Thrived

Aztlan was supposedly a gorgeous island known for its wildlife. The waters were rich with gorgeous fish, while duck and herons roamed the land. There were also colorful birds. So what happened to this rich city?

Aztlan: They Moved Away

Legend says that when the people of Aztlan migrated to the Valley of Mexico, their city vanished into the shadows of time. Despite countless searches in Western Mexico and Utah, its whereabouts remain a mystery.

The Roanoke Colony

Located off the coast of North Carolina, the Roanake Colony was founded in 1585—but these days, it's better known as the Lost Colony.

The Roanoke Colony: An Unexplainable Disappearance

In 1590, a supply ship returned to the colony, only to make a disturbing discovery: all of the inhabitants had vanished. However, there was one clue left behind.

The Roanoke Colony: There Was One Clue

Chillingly, someone had carved a word into one of the posts, reading "Croatoan." The disappearance of the colonists sparked some chilling theories. 

The Roanoke Colony: Wild Theories

Some believed the colonists were wiped out by Native Americans, while others suspected they had blended into local tribes. A few even speculated pirates had taken them captive.

Dilmun

Dilmun is a lost, utopian city. According to descriptions, it was renowned for its lovely gardens and fresh water, which reportedly smelled sweet.

Dilmun: A Point Of Debate

The city was said to be one of Mesopotamia's biggest trading partners, but its exact location has always been a mystery. Some argued that it was near the Arabian Gulf, but today, many think it was closer to Bahrain—even stretching to Qatar, Kuwait, and easter Saudia Arabia.

Dilmun: Archaelogists Have Not Found A Site

In historical texts, Dilmun existed between 3,300 BC and 556 BC. However, archeologists have not yet found a site that matches this timeline.

Cahokia

Cahokia remains one of America’s greatest mysteries—a thriving city that flourished long before Columbus ever set foot in the West, located where southern Illinois stands today.

Cahokia: A Sophisticated Society

Established by Native Americans, Cahokia was a sophisticated place of farming, hunting, and trade. They even had urban planners who mapped out the city based on astronomical alignments. 

TimVickers, Wikimedia Commons