Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c40.s2.7

v2.c40.s2.7

Pāṇini mentioned that the words *lohitāyasa* (copper), *trapu* (tin), *kāṃsya* (bronze or bell metal) had been used in the Vedic literatures. A newly defined term *trāpusam* meant modification or *vikāra* of *trapu*, i.e., an alloy of tin, just as *jātusam* meant modification of *jatu* or lac (Pāṇ., 4.3.138). This shows that tin and bronze (copper-tin alloy; *kāṃsa*) were commonly used during Pāṇini's time. Whether *kāṃsa* meant brass (copper-zinc alloy) also, is not known. Possibly brass became popular in Taxilā after the instrusion of the Greeks. *Ghosa* came to mean bronze long after Pāṇini's time. Pāṇini was probably the first to mention the word *kupya* indicating base metal other than gold and silver (3.1.114).