The History of Copper

Copper lasts a long time. This is not new news. In fact, this news is thousands of years old.

The ancient Egyptians used copper on temple doors. The Yin dynasty used it for engraving art. The Romans built a copper roof cover for the Pantheon.

The word copper comes from the Latin word cuprum or cyprium. Ancient Cyprus was the copper capital, a major producer of copper for international trade. Researchers think Cyprus has been producing copper since the forth millennium BC. The featured image is a Cyprus Mine still in use today.

It reached its greatest popularity during medieval times. A great example of its ability to last is the copper roof of Hildersheim Cathedral. Installed in 1280 AD, the roof still stands!

Before the emergence of a larger middle class and upper class, copper was only installed on ecclesiastical, governmental, or public buildings. The use of copper has now even spread indoors, partly due to its antimicrobial properties.