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In the legend of Atlantis, orichalcum is a reddish metal, mined in Atlantis but known only by name after the island's disappearance. According to Plato the mineral was found in many parts of Atlantis, being considered second only to gold in value.
The three outer walls of the temple to Poseidon and Cleito were clad respectively with brass, tin, and the third, which encompassed the whole citadel, "flashed with the red light of orichalcum".
Some sources call orichalcum mountain-brass or gold-brass. Perhaps it was copper or a bronze. In Latin it is called aurichalcum; the word is derived from the Greek word ορειχαλκον, which may be transliterated as oreikhalkon.
In numismatics, orichalcum is the golden-colored bronze alloy used for the sestertius and dupondius coins. It was considered more valuable than copper, of which the as coin was made.
In several video games, particularly in the role-playing genre, orichalcum can be worked into jewelry; examples of games employing this device include Star Ocean: The Second Story for the PlayStation and Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town for the Game Boy Advance. Kirby Superstar for the Super Nintendo featured Orihalcon (a variant spelling) as a collectible treasure, though it appeared as a light blue crystal rather than the usual red, gold, or silver metal. In Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, the Nazis hope to use orichalcum to create a weapon as powerful as the atom bomb, but without the radiation. This is suggested in an early cut scene where a single bead of orcalcium gives a small machine enough power to tunnel through a thick concrete wall in seconds.
In Final Fantasy XI FFXI an MMORPG, Orichalcum Ore can be dug up or mined, and crafted into ingots, which are used for high level rings and other expensive gear.
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