Note 297 — Chapter V · THE SECOND CHALCITIC AGE OF ALLOYS[242]—BRONZE, BRASS, ETC.: THE AXE AND THE SWORD.

The artificial mixture of copper (four fifths) and gold (one-fifth) was called pyropus (Pliny, xxxiv. 2), from its fiery red tint; it was also made of gold and bronze, and termed chrysochalcos, ‘the king of metals.’ Æs corinthiacum (Pliny, xxxiv. 3), or Corinthian brass, used for mirrors, composed of copper, silver (steel? zinc?), and gold, was more valuable than gold. According to Pausanias (ii. 3, § 3), this malleable and ductile metal was tempered in the Fountain of Pyrene. The vulgar legend, refuted by Pliny, who tells the tale (xxxiv. 6), dates it from the days of Mummius (b.c. 146). A medal of Corinthian brass was analysed by the Duc de Luynes. Pliny (xxxiv. 3) mentions three kinds, candidum, luteum, and hepatizon (liver-colour), of equal quantities of metal; this probably resembled our own alloys. Beckmann (sub voc. ‘Zinc’ and ‘Tin’) gives a list of these and other compositions, Mannheim gold, Dutch gold, Prince’s metal, Bristol brass, &c.