Copper

Copper is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Cu and atomic number 29.

History

In Greek times, the metal was known by the name chalkos (χαλκός). In Roman times, it became known as aes Cyprium (aes being the generic Latin term for copper alloys such as bronze and other metals, and because so much of it was mined in Cyprus). From this, the phrase was simplified to cuprum and then eventually Anglicized into the English copper.

Related Topics:
Bronze - Cyprus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Copper was known to some of the oldest civilizations on record, and has a history of use that is at least 10,000 years old. A copper pendant was found in what is now northern Iraq that dates to 8700 BC. By 5000 BC there are signs of copper smelting, the refining of copper from simple copper oxides such as malachite or azurite. The earliest signs of gold use, by contrast, appear around 4000 BC.

Related Topics:
Iraq - Smelting - Malachite - Azurite - Gold

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There are copper and bronze artifacts from Sumerian cities that date to 3000 BC, and Egyptian artifacts in copper and copper alloyed with tin nearly as old. In one pyramid, a copper plumbing system was found that is 5000 years old.

Related Topics:
Bronze - Sumerian - Egyptian - Tin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Egyptians found that adding a small amount of tin made the metal easier to cast, so bronze alloys are found in Egypt almost as soon as copper is found. Use of copper in ancient China dates to at least 2000 BC. By 1200 BC excellent bronzes were being made in China. Note that these dates are affected by wars and conquest, as copper is easily melted down and reused. In Europe, Oetzi the Iceman, a well preserved male dated to 3200 BC, was found with a copper tipped axe whose metal was 99.7% pure. High levels of arsenic in his hair suggests he was involved in copper smelting.

Related Topics:
China - Oetzi the Iceman - 3200 BC - Arsenic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The use of bronze was so pervasive in a certain era of civilization that it has been named the Bronze Age. The transitional period in certain regions between the preceding Neolithic period and the Bronze Age is termed the Chalcolithic, with some high purity copper tools being used alongside stone tools.

Related Topics:
Bronze - Bronze Age - Neolithic - Chalcolithic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Brass, an alloy of zinc and copper, was known to the Greeks but first used extensively by the Romans.

Related Topics:
Brass - Alloy - Zinc - Greek - Romans

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Copper was associated with the goddess Aphrodite/Venus in mythology and alchemy, owing to its lustrous beauty, its ancient use in producing mirrors, and its association with Cyprus, which was sacred to the goddess.

Related Topics:
Aphrodite - Venus - Alchemy - Cyprus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In alchemy the symbol for copper was also the symbol for the planet Venus.

Related Topics:
Alchemy - Venus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~