Legends and myths are as old as time itself. Like the telephone game, the stories start off clean and precise and eventually become so distorted that it’s impossible to separate fact from fiction. Some of them have been proven to be nothing short of the human imagination, while others were inspired by real events. If this has piqued your interest then keep scrolling to learn of five places and things that never existed.

1. The Lost City of Atlantis

When most people hear the name Atlantis, they most likely envision a peaceful and technologically advanced utopia that met its demise and now sits somewhere under the Atlantic Ocean. It is believed that Athenian philosopher Plato made up the entire story as propaganda to prop up his homeland. Whether true or not, one can agree that it has served as inspiration for many films, novels and even fictional characters.

2. The Tower of Babel

As mentioned in the book of Genesis, people came together and built a tower that led to heaven and God, supposedly not wanting any visitors, put a stop to their plans by having everyone suddenly speak different languages. What’s strange is that a similar story is mentioned in several civilizations around the world. Many people see this as proof that the story is true, but no evidence of this tower has ever been found.

3. The Holy Grail

The holy grail is a very popular myth, having been mentioned in many cultures and religions. Depending on who you ask, they’ll tell you it was a chalice used by Jesus at the last supper or that it was an object sought by the knights of Arthurian legend. These are the two most popular associations but the Celts, Welsh and Persians have their own myths surrounding it. It should be no surprise that a number of scammers showed up with fake holy grails over the centuries.

4. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Ever heard about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? Well only six of these remarkable constructions have been found, leaving everyone wondering where the seventh could be hiding. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is said to be an architectural and horticultural marvel that was supposedly built by the legendary queen Semiramis. Although the exact location is still unknown, many scholars agree that the gardens lie somewhere under the bed of the Euphrates River. Another theory is that myth is based on the Gardens of King Sennacherib, at the ancient city of Nineveh- today this would be in Iraq.

5. El Dorado

We all know of the lengths many people will go to attain massive amounts of wealth. Cue the legend of El Dorado; a 16th-century myth that sent explorers on a treasure hunt throughout South America trying to find a lost city so rich its streets were paved in gold. Lake Guatavita in Colombia was the primary site for exploration and it was even drained at some point to ascertain whether the city existed or not. As imagined, the South American jungle was unforgiving and claimed many lives in the process. And to think this all began because a Musica chieftain in Colombia allegedly covered himself in gold for a ritual.