Copper Meaning
A guide for the history, meaning, and properties of Copper. Said to be...
Conductor | Repel Negativity | Amplifier
Copper has a staying presence in spiritual communities as a symbol of protection. Various cultures across history have used this metal, and some have branded it with certain metaphysical qualities that modern people have not shaken off. Ancient minds believed that copper could enhance or amplify power during rituals, whether this could be for warding off curses or refining prayers. In other words, it was said to be a good conductor.
Copper is said to have a meaning of defense, protection, and magnification. Some believe that copper has metaphysical properties that enhance their meditation or allow them to repel negative energy, allowing this metal to stand as a shield against adverse foreign energy.
Copper Use & History
Few metals have been as significant, widespread, and adopted as copper. Its high conductivity and malleability are integral to electronics. It is soft, but when combined with tin, it can form bronze, a hard metal that was often used in the construction of weaponry, tools, and many other artifacts. Copper has been used since its discovery in just about every corner of the world, and there has been no shortage of ideas for how to use it, either. As a result, much of the world, but not all, had a copper age and/or a bronze age.
Evidence of ancient copper production is shamelessly ubiquitous; Europe and the Near East were focal points for catalyzing and invoking copper's use. Smiths hammered out copper into various tools, weapons, and armor, but it was also used as a currency. The marble walls of Rome, the rich palaces of India, and the jade courts of China put copper coins into circulation.
Roman coins varied and fluctuated in content, but copper was usually present. When silver or gold was unavailable, the Roman mint produced copper coins. While the value did wax and wane at times, it provided a more stable base than the mercurial markets of silver, and there is no denying that its use has cemented it into the chronicle of history in general, let alone that of the ancients.
Sub-Saharan Africa, as a rule, did not have a copper or bronze age, but evidence of copper production has been found in present-day Niger and Mauritania. Despite this, it can hardly be called an “age” as the production was nowhere near the scale of Europe or the Middle East, and the sub-Saharan iron construction eclipsed copper and bronze.
Despite the scarcity of water and wood, sub-Saharan people managed to fashion out copper tools and weapons with steadfast ingenuity, and this spawned a rather unique age, one different from the Europeans or the Middle East. There is also some evidence that some of the progression made in metallurgy in sub-Saharan Africa was independent, relying on no knowledge from other regions.
Cultures and civilizations have changed over the centuries. What about copper? It's highly unlikely that you have seen a copper sword lying around, except perhaps at a museum.
But what you do see around are electronics. Lots and lots of electronics. Copper is a vital element in modern-day electrical infrastructure. There are millions of miles of copper wire around the world, and they help ferry loads of data right into your device.
That's still not even the only time we use copper. If you've browsed our store (thank you!), you've likely seen that we have handmade jewelry; a lot of our jewelry features copper. Aside from giving it a healthy contrast and looking otherwise beautiful, copper is fun to work with (or we think so, anyway).
Copper is a common metal used in dainty jewelry. Sure, it's no sterling silver, but it's an underrated metal, and we personally think that more people should use it or, at the very least, consider wearing it. Ancient people loved it for a reason.
But that's just us. Surely not many people use copper outside of its practical applicability. Well, if you live in the United States, then you almost certainly know that most of the Statue of Liberty is copper. That's right; Lady Liberty is made of copper. Not gold, not silver, and not platinum.
What you may not know, however, is that Lady Liberty has a little sister. She's much, much smaller than the one we all know and love. But, still, it's nice to know she has family out there.
But even outside jewelry, statues, and wiring, there is another practical use for copper. If you're into cooking, then there is a solid chance that you have seen copper cookware. What's up with that? This goes back to copper's ability to conduct. That's right, copper cookware conducts and distributes heat evenly. It's also used in musical instruments.
Yeah, that's a lot of use for copper. Don't consider it out of the fight yet. Copper isn't just ubiquitous, and its application is seemingly perennial. It has seen thousands of years of use that we know of, and unless electronics no longer need it, it seems highly unlikely that this will change in the foreseeable future. It's easy to put copper down because it's not gold or silver, but it is an unsung hero for sure.
Scientific Information
Hardness: 2-3
Lustre: Metallic
Crystal System: Isometric
Etymology: From Greek “kyprios”
Location: Global
The Wrap Up
The power of copper, according to the ancients, is said to be immense, and it is capable of elevating one to a higher state of consciousness. Many today believe that copper is an excellent material to work with, as it is believed to a powerful protector in spiritual communities. Thus, copper's metaphysical properties are, in short, protection, amplification, and conduction.
Historically, copper has earned its passage to fit right in the matter of history. Various cultures and civilization have used copper to great effect. Others, today, believe copper has meaning and use it for meditation purposes. The mystifying qualities and properties attributed to copper are timeless.
Whether you are a spiritualist, a metalworker, or someone merely interested in copper, we hope that you have enjoyed this blog. Thank you for reading.
Sources
Del Mar, Alexander. History of Monetary Systems. United Kingdom, National Poetry Foundation, University of Maine, 1983.
Finlay, George. A History of Greece: From Its Conquest by the Romans to the Present Time, B.C. 146 to A.D. 1864. United Kingdom, Cambridge University Press, 2014.
O'Brien, William. Prehistoric Copper Mining in Europe: 5500-500 BC. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2015.
https://www.allorashop.com/news/copper-cookware-benefits/