Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c38.s3.5

v2.c38.s3.5

The word ayas in the Ṛgveda (1.57.3, 1.163.9, 4.2.17, 6.3.5, 10.53.9-10 etc.) means metal in general, and not iron in particular. In the Ṛgvedic age it probably corresponded to copper and its alloys. In the subsequent Vedic literature, copper was mentioned as the red metal and iron as the black metal. This also proves that ayas in the Ṛgveda could not mean iron specifically. We would propose that the hymn 9.112.2 might have alluded to the making of copper metal through the reduction of its ore or simply to the melting of gold-bearing quartz. The end product of golden ornament, copper implement or copper-tipped arrow were sold to the moneyed people by the metalsmiths.