Lost Civilizations & Mysteries Vocabulary

possessing great strength or advanced knowledge; relating to a lost golden age

“He shouldered the burden with atlantean strength.”

Origin: From Atlantis, the legendary island described by Plato

relating to a lost prehistoric continent or ancient wisdom

“Theosophists spoke of lemurian root races.”

Origin: From Lemuria, hypothetical lost land in the Indian Ocean

relating to the far north; beyond the reach of the north wind

“The hyperborean wastes stretched endlessly white.”

Origin: Greek Hyperborea, legendary land 'beyond the north wind'

ridiculously old-fashioned; from before the biblical Flood

“His antediluvian views on gender shocked the audience.”

Origin: Latin ante (before) + diluvium (flood)

submerged beneath water; fallen from former glory

“The sunken ruins hinted at a once-great civilization.”

Origin: Old English sincan (to sink)

hidden beneath the surface; overwhelmed or covered

“Submerged memories resurfaced after decades.”

Origin: Latin submergere (to plunge under)

extremely ancient; from before recorded history

“Antediluvial creatures of impossible size.”

Origin: Variant of antediluvian

relating to the uttermost north; at the edge of the known world

“The thulean expedition sought lands beyond the maps.”

Origin: From Thule, ancient Greek name for the northernmost land

a lost Pacific continent; ancient and mysterious

“Legends of Mu rival those of Atlantis.”

Origin: Name popularized by Augustus Le Plongeon and James Churchward

mystical, healing, and otherworldly; relating to a blessed isle

“The retreat had an avalonian quality of peace and restoration.”

Origin: From Avalon, the island where King Arthur was taken to heal

relating to a hidden utopia; spiritually enlightened

“The monastery had a shambhalic serenity.”

Origin: From Shambhala, mythical enlightened kingdom in Tibetan Buddhism

relating to a great flood; catastrophically transformative

“The deluvian rains lasted forty days and nights.”

Origin: Latin diluvium (flood, deluge)

involving violent upheaval; world-ending in scale

“The cataclysmal event ended the Bronze Age.”

Origin: Greek kataklysmos (flood, deluge)

from before the Flood; belonging to a lost age

“Prediluvian kings were said to reign for thousands of years.”

Origin: Latin prae (before) + diluvium (flood)