The Fountain of Youth is a mythical spring that supposedly contains water which will heal and restore the drinkers youth. Bathing in the fountain will give a similar result. Some variations of the legend say that not only will your youth be restored, but you will also achieve immortality. These stories originated in the Caribbean islands around 400 BCE. Around the early 16th century, during the age of exploration, a Spanish explorer named Juan Ponce de Leon set out to find the fountain, after hearing about it from the locals of the islands. It is said that the fountain is from across the "land of darkness". The original tale accounts for Alexander the Greats servant crossing this land to obtain the holy water for Alexander. This water proves to not be the true water from the fountain of youth, as Alexander the Great is recorded to be dead.
The Fountain was not only a legend in the Caribbean Islands. Cultures everywhere had different stories and variations of the Fountain of Youth. Just like Spain, the other countries sent out explorers to find the Fountain, with no success. To this day, no one has found the Fountain, but there are those who still try.
This made me think of the movie Tuck Everlasting right away! It would be pretty amazing if drinking water from a fountain or a tree could restore someones youth or even make them live forever! Too bad their just myths and stories!
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