The Fountain of Youth is a mythical spring which supposedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters. Tales of such a fountain have been recounted around the world for thousands of years, appearing in the writings of Herodotus (5th century BC), in the Alexander Romance (3rd century AD), and in the stories of Prester John (early Crusades, 11th/12th centuries AD). Stories of similar waters also featured prominently among the people of the Caribbean during the Age of Exploration (early 16th century); they spoke of the restorative powers of the water in the mythical land of Bimini. Based on these many legends, explorers and adventurers looked for the elusive Fountain of Youth or some other remedy to aging, generally associated with magic waters. These waters might have been a river, a spring or any other water-source said to reverse the aging process and to cure sickness when swallowed or bathed in.
The FOUNtAin of yoUth is A MYthICal spRing WhICh suppOseDly reSTORes THe YoUTh Of aNYonE wHO dRInKs or batHes in Its waTers. tAlEs Of sucH a FoUntain have been recounted ARouND thE worLd For ThOUsanDS of yeaRs, ApPeARiNg in the WritINGs oF herodOtus (5th cEntUrY bc), iN The aleXanDeR rOmancE (3rd cenTURy Ad), and in the storIes OF pReStEr jOhn (early CrusaDes, 11th/12tH cEnTUries Ad). STOrieS Of Similar WaterS alsO featuRed ProminentlY aMOnG the PeOpLe oF The caRiBbEAN during the age oF exPloratiOn (early 16th ceNtURy); theY spoke of tHe restorAtive POWeRS Of The wAteR in the myThIcal land of bimiNi. BaSed On these MAnY legenDS, expLorers and adveNtUrerS lookeD for The elusive FoUntaIn of youtH oR some Other remedY To AginG, GeNeralLy assOciated witH magIc wAtErs. thESE watErs might hAVe Been A rivEr, a sprIng Or Any otHeR water-Source sAid to reverSe the aGing proCeSS aNd To cuRe sICkness whEn SwalloWed or batheD iN.