3. That copper must have been known in the earliest ages of society, is sufficiently evident. It occurs frequently native, and could not fail to attract the attention of mankind, from its colour, weight, and malleability. It would not be difficult to fuse it even in the rudest ages: and when melted into masses, as it is malleable and ductile, it would not require much skill to convert it into useful and ornamental utensils. The Hebrew word תשחנ (_nechooshat_) translated _brass_, obviously means _copper_. We have the authority of the Book of Genesis to satisfy us that copper was known before the flood, and probably as early as either silver or gold. “And Zillah, she also bore Tubal-cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass (_copper_) and iron.”[31] [31] Genesis iv. 22. The word _copper_ occurs in many other passages of the writings of Moses.[32] That the Hebrew word translated _brass_ must have meant copper is obvious, from the following passage: “Out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.”[33] Brass does not exist in the earth, nor any ore of it, it is always made artificially; it must therefore have been copper, or an ore of copper, that was alluded to by Moses. [32] For example, Exodus xxvii. 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19--xxx. 18, &c. Numbers xxi. 9. [33] Deut. viii. 9. Copper must have been discovered and brought into common use long before iron or steel; for Homer represents his heroes of the Trojan war as armed with swords, &c. of copper. Copper itself is too soft to be made into cutting instruments; but the addition of a little tin gives it the requisite hardness. Now we learn from the analyses of Klaproth, that the copper swords of the ancients were actually hardened by the addition of tin.[34] [34] Beitrage, vi. 81. Copper was the metal in common use in the early part of the Roman commonwealth. Romulus coined copper money alone. Numa established a college of workers in copper (_ærariorum fabrum_).[35] [35] Plinii Hist. Nat. xxxiv. 1. The Latin word _æs_ sometimes signifies copper, and sometimes brass. It is plain from what Pliny says on the subject, that he did not know the difference between copper and brass; he says, that an ore of _æs_ occurs in Cyprus, called _chalcitis_, where _æs_ was first discovered. Here _æs_ obviously means copper. In another place he says, that _æs_ is obtained from a mineral called _cadmia_. Now from the account of cadmia by Pliny and Dioscorides, there cannot be a doubt that it is the ore to which the moderns have given the name of _calamine_, by means of which brass is made. It is sometimes a silicate and sometimes a carbonate of zinc; for both of these ores are confounded together under the name of cadmia, and both are employed in the manufacture of brass. Solinus says, that _æs_ was first made at Chalcis, a town in Eubœa. Hence the Greek name, χαλκος (_chalkos_), by which copper was distinguished.