Metals of antiquity


The metals of antiquity are the seven metals which humans had identified and found use for in prehistoric times: gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, iron, and mercury. These seven are the metals from which the modern world was forged; until the discovery of arsenic in the 13th century, these were the only known elemental metals, compared to the 86 known today.

Characteristics

Melting point

The metals of antiquity generally have low melting points, with iron being the exception.
While all the metals of antiquity but tin and lead occur natively, only gold and silver are commonly found as the native metal.
While widely known during antiquity, these metals are by no means common.
Yet all were known and available in tangible quantities in ancient times.

Symbolism

Each of the metals was associated with one of the seven then-known celestial bodies, and one of the seven days of the week.
MetalBodyDay of week
GoldSunSunday
SilverMoonMonday
IronMarsTuesday
MercuryMercuryWednesday
TinJupiterThursday
CopperVenusFriday
LeadSaturnSaturday