Top 10 Mythical Places that Turned Out to Be REAL
#10: Cyclops Riviera
Lying east of Sicily is a stretch of coastline known as the Cyclops Riviera. And what famous myth prominently features a cyclops? That’s right, Homer’s “Odyssey.” “Odyssey” is one of the defining Greek epics, written around the 8th century BCE. It contains a character named Polyphemus, who is the cyclopean son of Poseidon and Thoosa. Polyphemus antagonizes Odysseus and his men by trapping them in a cave and attempting to hit them with giant rocks. These are the very same rocks that can be found off the coast of the Cyclops Riviera, their brown peaks poking through the Mediterranean.
#9: Knockma Hill
Officially known as Cnoc Meadha, Knockma Hill is a large mound found in western Ireland. This area is said to be the home of a Celtic fairy named Finvarra. Finvarra is the King of the Aos Sí, a group of fairies found in Celtic mythology. Finvarra and his fairies have been closely linked with the area’s crops. When they won battles, the crops would bloom and be healthy. If Finvarra was away from home, or if the surrounding area was disturbed by battle, then it would experience famine. Some legends even name Finvarra as the ruler or king of the dead. Knockma Hill contains a few giant cairns of prehistoric origin, one of which is said to be the burial place of the fairy king.
#8: Takachiho
Amaterasu is a deity in Japanese mythology, serving as the goddess of the sun. Her grandson is Ninigi-no-Mikoto, who was sent to Earth by Amaterasu. Ninigi brought with him the Three Sacred Treasures, which helped establish the Imperial House of Japan. Ninigi is also said to be the great-grandfather of Emperor Jimmu, who, according to Japanese legend, was the first Emperor of Japan. Ninigi landed on Earth in the town of Takachiho, which lies in southern Japan in the region of Kyushu. Today, Takachiho is home to approximately 12,000 people.
#7: Xanadu
“Kubla Khan” is a very famous poem written by the English Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Coleridge reportedly wrote the poem after experiencing an intense opium dream, but only fifty-four of the planned 300 lines were ever finished. The epic poem describes a seemingly mythical location known as Xanadu, which is said to be the “pleasure dome” of Kublai Khan. Well, Kublai Khan was in fact a real person, and Xanadu is a real place. It’s officially called Shangdu, and it served as an administrative capital of the Yuan dynasty, which was established by Kublai Khan in the late 13th century. Shangdu was once visited by Marco Polo, and it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.
#6: Tintagel Castle
King Arthur is arguably the most popular literary hero in the western canon, as his story has been endlessly told and retold throughout the centuries. Many real locations are associated with the Arthurian legend. The mythical island of Avalon has been identified as Glastonbury Tor, and while many locations have been put forth as the “real” Camelot, many agree that it was Cadbury Castle in Somerset. But we’re here for Tintagel Castle, which is found in North Cornwall. This area has been inhabited since the Early Middle Ages, and Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote in his “Historia Regum Britanniae” that Tintagel Castle was the site of King Arthur’s conception. A modern path called Arthur’s Way now stretches between the Tintagel and Cadbury castles.
#5: Shangri-La
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Considering the cultural power and proliferation of Shangri-La, it’s amazing to think that the legend is so relatively new. The myth didn’t begin until 1933, when English author James Hilton published his novel “Lost Horizon.” In the story, various people crash land in the mountains of Tibet and find a secret utopia called Shangri-La. There are two potential sources for Hilton’s unforgettable setting. One is Zhongdian, a Chinese city that actually renamed itself Shangri-La in 2001. Another is the Hunza Valley near the China-Pakistan border, which was personally visited by Hilton and matches many of his physical descriptions.
#4: Loch Ness
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It’s fun watching folklore progress in real time. One of the most famous names in Scottish folklore is undoubtedly Nessie, or the Loch Ness Monster. While everyone knows about ol’ Nessie today, the legend actually goes all the way back to the sixth century, when a hagiographer named Adomnán wrote about the monster in his “Life of Columba.” The book describes a “water beast” that attacked and killed a man in front of the titular Irish monk. Loch Ness is indeed a real place found in the northern Scottish Highlands. The loch itself is real. The monster… well, we’ll let you come to your own conclusion.
#3: Sherwood Forest
Pretty much smack in the middle of England lies Sherwood Forest, which is found in the county of Nottinghamshire. The forest stretches over 1,000 acres and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. Part of this is because of its natural beauty, and part is owing to its association with Robin Hood. It has long been said that Sherwood Forest was the home of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. This association dates back to 1420, when the “Lincoln Cathedral Manuscript” mentioned that “Robyn hode in scherewode stod.” It is also said that Robin Hood slept in Major Oak, a real oak tree that lies in Sherwood and dates back 1,000 years.
#2: Mount Olympus
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Serving as the highest mountain in Greece, Mount Olympus stretches over 9,000 feet into the air and lies near the Aegean Sea. This mountain is of great importance in Ancient Greek mythology, as it was said to house the Twelve Olympian gods. One particular landmark is Stefani, which serves as the mountain’s steepest peak. This peak is also known as the Throne of Zeus, who served as King of the Gods and as the God of Sky and Thunder. The summit of Mount Olympus was finally reached in 1913. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the Olympic Gods.
#1: Troy
We begin and end this list with Homer. The “Iliad” concerns the Trojan War, a skirmish found in Greek mythology that was fought between the Greeks and Trojans. The existence of the Trojan War is still up for debate, but there doesn’t seem to be much question behind the existence of Troy itself. It’s real, and it’s called Hisarlik. The reality of Troy was confirmed in 1871, when the site was excavated by archaeologists Heinrich Schliemann and Frank Calvert. But they didn’t just find one city. Troy is so old that settlements have been built on top of previous ones, resulting in nine distinct and numbered layers. Most agree that Homer’s Troy is Troy VII, which dates from about 1300 to 950 BCE.
