Laguna De Guatavita

The Muisca tribe inhabited this region before the Spanish conquistadores annihilated them through the 1500s. The Muisca chief or cacique was innaugurated in a fabulous ceremony that took place in this lagoon. The new chief was known as the golden one, or El Dorado; this is the original legend of El Dorado. Here is the account as recorded by the Spaniards:

The ceremony took place on the appointment of a new ruler. Before taking office, he spent some time secluded in a cave, without women, forbidden to eat salt and chile pepper, or to go out during daylight. The first journey he had to make was to go to the great lagoon of Guatavita, to make offerings and sacrifices to the demon [the Catholic author regarded any diety as a demon] which they worshipped as their god and lord. During the ceremony which took place at the lagoon, they made a raft of rushes, embellishing and decorating it with the most attractive things they had. They put on it four lighted braziers in which they burned much moque, which is the incense of these natives, and also resin and many other perfumes. The lagoon was large and deep, so that a ship with high sides could sail on it, all loaded with an infinity of men and women dressed in fine plumes, golden plaques and crowns…. As soon as those on the raft began to burn incense, they also lit braziers on the shore, so that the smoke hid the light of day.

At this time they stripped the heir to his skin, and anointed him with a sticky earth on which they placed gold dust so that he was completely covered with this metal. They placed him on the raft … and at his feet they placed a great heap of gold and emeralds for him to offer to his god. In the raft with him went four principal subject chiefs, decked in plumes, crowns, bracelets, pendants and ear rings all of gold. They, too, were naked, and each one carried his offering …. when the raft reached the centre of the lagoon, they raised a banner as a signal for silence. The gilded Indian then … [threw] out all the pile of gold into the middle of the lake, and the chiefs who had accompanied him did the same on their own accounts. ... After this they lowered the flag, which had remained up during the whole time of offering, and, as the raft moved towards the shore, the shouting began again, with pipes, flutes, and large teams of singers and dancers. With this ceremony the new ruler was received, and was recognized as lord and king

The Spanish killed all Muisca in search for gold, and even attempted to drain the Guatavita Lagoon. But there were no gold cities or even gold mines, as the Muisca obtained most of their gold through trade. The picture is the Musica rendition of the ceremonial raft.

According to Wikipedia, “In the mythology of the Muisca today, El Dorado (Mnya) represents the energy contained in the trinity of Chiminigagua, which constitues the creative power of everything that exists. Chiminigagua is, along with Bachué, Cuza, Chibchachum, Bochica and Nemcatacoa, one of the creators of the universe.

Meanwhile the name of El Dorado came to be used metaphorically of any place where wealth could be rapidly acquired. It was given to El Dorado County, California, and to towns and cities in various states. In literature frequent allusion is made to the legend. El Dorado is also sometimes used as a metaphor to represent an ultimate prize or “Holy Grail” that one might spend their life seeking. It could represent true love, heaven, happiness, or success. It is used sometimes as a figure of speech to represent something much sought after that may not even exist, or at least may not ever be found.”

_{Source: Wikipedia}