Gold

Abstract

Man’s relationship to gold has always been quite different than his association to stone, copper, bronze, or iron. If iron is considered to be the metal of strength and will, gold may be perceived to appeal, instead, to the forces of the heart. In antiquity, gold was the metal of the gods which was used to create religious vessels, utensils, and sculptures, but also ornaments and articles for adornment. In some ancient cultures, gold was not owned by individuals but belonged to the gods and their representatives on earth. Many poets have lauded gold, which they associated with the sun and its warmth and with wisdom.