Fata Morgana
/ˌfɑːtə mɔːˈɡɑːnə
/noun
A mirage: the war sometimes seemed unreal, more Fata Morgana than memory
Origin
Italian, literally 'fairy Morgan'; originally referring to a mirage seen in the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily and attributed to Morgan le Fay, whose legend and reputation were carried to Sicily by Norman settlers.