who was el dorado or the golden one

El Dorado, originally known as "the Golden One," was not a city but a legendary king or chief of the Muisca people, an indigenous group in what is now Colombia. According to the legend, this king covered himself in gold dust during a ceremonial ritual and then dove into Lake Guatavita, washing off the gold while his subjects threw gold and precious stones into the lake as offerings to the gods. This ritual symbolized the immense wealth and power of the ruler and inspired the Spanish conquistadors to search for a city or country of gold called El Dorado. The story of El Dorado originated from the Muisca culture, where each new leader (known as a zipa) was covered in gold powder and offered treasures to the lake in a ritual that sought to guarantee prosperity and social order. Over time, Spanish explorers transformed the idea of El Dorado from a gilded man to a legendary golden city or kingdom, sparking many expeditions in the 16th and 17th centuries to find this mythical place. Despite numerous attempts, no definitive El Dorado city full of gold was ever found, although gold artifacts have been recovered around Lake Guatavita and the surrounding region. In summary, El Dorado refers to the "Golden One," a titular name for a Muisca chief covered in gold dust during sacred ceremonies, which then evolved into the myth of a vast city or empire of gold.