Gold
was first discovered in form of glittering, yellow nuggets which was
its natural state. It gradually became a part of the human culture
and was appreciated for its radiance, pliability, ductility and
resistance to rust. As gold is dispersed in all parts of the world,
it was found by many groups in different regions. Almost everyone who
found the yellow metal was impressed by it.
Around
1320 BC, the time of Seti I in ancient Egypt, the first gold treasure
map (now known to us) was made. In Turin Museum you can find a
papyrus and fragments called "Carte des mines d'or."These
have images of gold mines, the quarters occupied by miners, a road
leading to the mines and mountains bearing gold. So where is that
gold mine located? You may wonder. The issue is that ancient treasure
maps are very vague and they do have something to throw you off the
actual trail!
Of
all metals used for sculpture or coin making, gold is the easiest to
work with. It is found in a pure state unlike most other metals that
have to be extracted from their ores. Pure gold is soft, ductile and
non-reactive. It does not corrode or pick stains. This is why the
earliest uses of gold were ornamental. Homer, in the "Iliad"
and "Odyssey," has mentioned gold as the glory of the
immortals and a symbol of prosperity among ordinary humans.
Throughout
civilizations the worth of gold was acknowledged and the metal
continues to hold value today. What makes it more attractive is that
it is directly saleable for cash in all parts of the world.
