 In
their hieroglyphics (picture writing), the ancient Egyptians used
the Ankh sign to represent copper. The Ankh was also the symbol of
Eternal Life, which is appropriate for copper since it has been used
continuously by people for 10,000 years.
Homer, following the Greek practice of around 1000 B.C., called the
metal Chalkos. This is why the Copper Age is also known as the Chalcolithic
Era.
A thousand years later during the Early Christian Era, the words "aes
Cyprium" appeared in Roman writings about copper, because much of
the metal at the time came from Cyprus. The word "copper" is an Anglicized
term of this Latin phrase. |
