And the ancient elves (or the elven gods) themselves moved it to the Fade, because it was the place where the Blight started, so became black. They used the orb to move it, as Corypheus moved the ruins of the Temple to the sky in the final part of DAI.
Possibly a certain faction of gods or elven people created the red lyrium and the blight to fight the others.
Discuss... 
I think Arlathan is the black city, but it was not moved in the fade. It was always there, and got separated from what later become the "real world" from the veil when Solas created it.
I absolutely do believe that the Black City is the 'reflection' of Aralathan in the fade. A city so powerful that it has left a permanent 'solidified' reflection of itself there. I assumed that the ancient elves probably did that on purpose so that those in Uthenera had a place to hang out. What turned it black? It was possibly turned black when the actual Arlathan was destroyed. That destruction of the real city is what corrupted the reflection, even though the magics that sustained it were powerful enough to keep its existence.
I do think that Arlathan was probably moved and not destroyed, but I think it was probably moved to one of those other worlds reached through the eluvians.
Let's not forget that there are also Eluvian in the fade. One more hint to the relationship between the fade and Arlathan.
So human God is actually an elf? Well that's interesting
I don't know about the golden city being the Arlathan, apparently the black city was really was golden before being corrupted and from Solas's descriptions Arlathan was crystal spires going though trees and floating palaces and given who he really is he would know which makes me think Arlathan would be more blue or white.
Is there any meat to this theory besides them both being old cities? Because if not then this just seems like aimless conjecture. There are a lot of old cities. They don't all have to be the same one.
So human God is actually an elf? Well that's interesting
That doesn't actually have to mean that Maker is an elf. It could as well mean that ancient elves had been worshipping the same god that now human in Thedas do.
Is there any meat to this theory besides them both being old cities? Because if not then this just seems like aimless conjecture. There are a lot of old cities. They don't all have to be the same one.
of course there is: a huge hole in the ground where Arlathan used to be.
Arlathan was corrupted and buried into the ground. Honestly, I'm more inclined to believe the Old Gods were what remained of some of the elven gods, and the Forgotten Ones were imprisoned in the Golden City, since no one could reach it. Once the Magisters pierced it, like opening a seal, they came out formless as Blight.
Need somethon better than than there is a big hole where Arlathan used to be to connect it to the golden city. RL cities have disappeared for one reason or another including one that sank inside the island it was by a earthquake in then got flooded by a Tsunami, ancient fishermen used to complain centuries afterwards of catching their nets on statutes of Poseidon.
Its certainly possible that the Black/Gold city was an elven construct. Just take a look at the eluvian cross roads and if the Orb allows people to go into the Fade without a scratch why not an entire city?
I can certainly see people lift the remains of arlathan ala Corypheus with Haven and then open/close the veil.
Also, take a look at Mythal's Temple: it has alot of gold inlays + her servants are clad in gold too. Perhaps what happened in Dirthamens Temple may have happened to those who resided in the Golden city: The higher up(s) sealed those residing inside to keep from outsiders invading them. Eventually, paranoia and hatred cause them to kill each other/ go crazy
A shame solas doesn't talk about the City at all
He does say something about it but only what it looked like, Crystal spires rising though the trees and palaces floating in the clouds.
I think Arlathan and the Golden/Black City are one and the same and, Skyhold was once the anchor point between it and the rest of Elvehan. The Veil was the defense that kept darkness out of all of Arlathan but, when the magisters managed to breach it, the elves unleashed powerful, dark magic to destroy them and, instead created darkspawn. Only Skyhold remained protected by the magic that kept darkness away. Likely the elves there quickly separates Skyhold form Arlathan to preserve what they could.
Knowing what had happened the would have also reenforced the wards that protect Skyhold, making it impossible for anything corrupted to come near it. That's why Solas knew it would be a safe place for the Inquisition, those wards are still in place, perhaps because he's been keeping them that way. Solas may be the guardian of Skyhold.
the gods were supposedly locked away in heaven which was a city known as The Eternal City. and it was inside the fade.
and Felassan told briala the elves were the ones who truly ripped their empire apart. and their dreamers were killed by the mass mobs.
Just things to keep in mind when talking about theories of Arlathan.
The Maker never gets any love in any theories. It's a shame. It really is like most people agree that in this fantasy world all the 'gods' (old or elven) exist but The Maker does not.
It is the Maker's existence that for me throws many Black City theories out the window. I think it's simpler than just large city disappeared, arrived in a different place (Golden City existed in the fade before Arlathan was destroyed).
Golden City was the seat of the maker, the Tevinter Magister's were tempted by the Old Gods to take the Golden City by going into the fade. Did they not see that the 'Golden City' was Black before going there? Considering everyone now can see the Black City when entering the fade (dreaming) surely the Magister's saw a Golden version. They forced their way in and turned it black. Blight, darkspawn etc, all pretty much as is after.
I think Arlathan is the black city, but it was not moved in the fade. It was always there, and got separated from what later become the "real world" from the veil when Solas created it.
That is certainly plausible. I don't think we've ever truly been given a physical geographical location for where Arlathan was.
A City within the Beyond, accessed through the network of Eluvians?
I don't know about the golden city being the Arlathan, apparently the black city was really was golden before being corrupted and from Solas's descriptions Arlathan was crystal spires going though trees and floating palaces and given who he really is he would know which makes me think Arlathan would be more blue or white.
There is actually gold crystals in real life, it should be said.
I would like to see the face of Cory when he discovers his much much beloved Golden City turns out to be an elven domain.
That's just a theory a.....
The Maker never gets any love in any theories. It's a shame. It really is like most people agree that in this fantasy world all the 'gods' (old or elven) exist but The Maker does not.
It is the Maker's existence that for me throws many Black City theories out the window. I think it's simpler than just large city disappeared, arrived in a different place (Golden City existed in the fade before Arlathan was destroyed).
Golden City was the seat of the maker, the Tevinter Magister's were tempted by the Old Gods to take the Golden City by going into the fade. Did they not see that the 'Golden City' was Black before going there? Considering everyone now can see the Black City when entering the fade (dreaming) surely the Magister's saw a Golden version. They forced their way in and turned it black. Blight, darkspawn etc, all pretty much as is after.
op...you beat me to it. I was going to post this to day. And to all the nay sayers, remember that every thing that links to the golden city in Dai was elven made.
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