Historical Background

Here are some details and links regarding the historical background and the story behind the story of The Doomsday Mask. You can also learn more about the inspiration for the story on Pinterest and  YouTube.

Berlin 1945

Part of the story in The Doomsday Mask takes place in Berlin during the chaos at the end of the Second World War. Large parts of the city were destroyed and the army recruited anyone strong enough to hold a weapon in the waning days of the war, including children.

Art treasures and other valuables were looted by the Nazis from across Europe during the course of the war and as the Allies closed in, some of these were buried, but also hidden in mine shafts, tunnels and even at the bottom of lakes, both for safekeeping and to retrieve once the fighting was over. One treasure horde discovered by US troops in a mine contained thousands of bags of gold, silver, and valuable coins worth over $500 million, along with jewelry and priceless works of art. Some of these were located in the alpine regions of southern Germany where the Allies feared the Nazis might make a final stand lasting for years. You can learn more about the so-called National Redoubt here. This site covers some details of Nazi Treasure of World War II.

The Legend of Atlantis

The Mask of Kulkaan featured in the story is a priceless ancient artifact and a remnant of Atlantis. The Mask was inspired by the legends of the mysterious crystal skulls discovered in Central America and in other parts of the world. You can learn more about crystal skulls here. There are countless stories about the lost city of Atlantis, plus many theories as to the possible location of the legendary civilization. These include the Mediterranean, the mid Atlantic, the Caribbean and even Antarctica. This site deals with the theory that Atlantis was in Antarctica when it was largely free of ice. Explore the possibility of the civilization being situated in the Mediterranean and Black Sea here. Locations of Atlantis and a number of other sites examine possible locations and you can also learn about other legendary lost continents and cities such as Zealandia, Lemuria and the Kerguelen Plateau.

The Pleistocene Extinction

The world’s paleontologists suspect that a catastrophic event happened 12,000 years ago, or around 10,000 BC, which is about the same time as the supposed destruction of Atlantis. Vast numbers of large mammals such as mammoths, mastodons, sabre-toothed tigers and others vanished almost overnight. Learn more about the Pleistocene Extinction.

Ancient Cities of the Americas

Some of the ancient cities of Central and South America served as an inspiration for parts of the story in The Doomsday Mask. The city of Tenochtitlan was established in 1325 and became the capital of the Aztec Empire, until it was conquered by the Spanish invaders in 1521. Teotihuacan is located thirty miles north of Mexico City and is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico, while Chichen Itza was built by the Mayan civilization in the Yucatan peninsular. The mysterious ruins of Tiahuanaco are located near Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and Machu Picchu, often called the lost city of the Incas, is located high in the Peruvian Andes.