These were plenty of legends of societies that once thrived in a distant time and place. Some have been found and excavated so that we can begin to understand how these civilizations of yesteryear might have lived.
But some exist only in legend. Real or fantasy, here are some of the ancient societies that inspired many, and some that were never found.
1. Machu Picchu
(Credit: Sharan Prasad Anumolu/Shutterstock)
