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In search of lost cities: 6 legendary settlements yet to be found
There are numerous ancient lost cities documented in various written sources whose remains have so far eluded identification, even with the aid of increasingly sophisticated tools. These settlements were often the centres of empires or sites of religious or political significance, making the details of their disappearance an important scientific question.
Many ancient cities are known from historical sources, yet archaeologists have still not been able to locate them. These lost cities were often imperial capitals or the main cities of kingdoms, but their remains continue to lie underground, hidden in largely unknown locations.
The problem does not stem solely from a lack of information. Ancient texts clearly refer to these cities, yet their precise geographical locations have been lost over time, or they lie in areas where wars or political instability have hindered scientific research. According to Live Science, six of these mysterious lost cities were once exceptionally important settlements that continue to fascinate researchers.
Lost cities of Mesopotamia and Egypt
One of the best-known lost cities is Irisagrig, which flourished in what is now Iraq around four thousand years ago. Its existence is attested by thousands of clay tablets that surfaced on the art market after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. These reveal that the rulers of Irisagrig lived in grand palaces, kept many dogs, and even lions, which were fed on cattle.
The inscriptions also mention a temple dedicated to the god Enki, where lavish celebrations were held. While the city’s existence is beyond doubt, archaeologists have never found its ruins, nor have any looters located its site.
A similar mystery surrounds the city of Itjtawy, founded by Pharaoh Amenemhat I and long the capital of Egypt. While its name and historical role are well known, its precise location remains speculative. Scholars suggest it may have been near Lisht, where Amenemhat’s pyramid and several other important burial sites are found, but the city itself has never been discovered.
Traces of imperial capitals lost
Akkad is surrounded by an unusual number of question marks. At the height of the Akkadian Empire, which stretched from the Persian Gulf to Anatolia, the city hosted the Eulmash temple, dedicated to the goddess Ishtar. Ancient sources indicate that Akkad was completely destroyed or depopulated at the fall of the empire, yet its exact location has never been identified. What is certain is that its remains lie somewhere within present-day Iraq.
Waššukanni, the capital of the Mitanni Empire, has also vanished from the historical map. This city was the centre of a state covering north-eastern Syria, southern Anatolia, and northern Iraq. Its inhabitants were Hurrians, with their own language and sophisticated culture. Scholars believe the city may have been located in present-day north-eastern Syria, but no concrete archaeological evidence has yet confirmed this.
Memory of faith and exile
Al-Yahudu is unusual in that it was not a classical city, but a settlement inhabited by exiles within the Babylonian Empire. Its name – “City of Judea” – refers to the Jewish population deported by Nebuchadnezzar II after the conquest of Jerusalem. Around two hundred clay tablets testify that the inhabitants preserved their religious identity and worshipped Yahweh, yet the city’s exact location remains unknown.
The Egyptian city of Thinis also ranks among the most mysterious lost cities. According to ancient sources, it was here that Egypt’s earliest kings ruled during the unification of the country. Later, Memphis became the capital, and Thinis remained a provincial centre. While researchers are attempting to locate it near Abydos, where numerous royal tombs have been excavated, its precise location has not yet been established.