Copper in Ancient India c6.s3.3

c6.s3.3

Copper is mentioned in many places in Kautilya’s Arthashāstra (3rd century B.C.) which mentions the ores of copper as heavy and green, grey and red in colour probably meaning thereby malachite, pyrites and red copper ore.¹ The Arthashāstra also mentions the use of copper in making alloys and in gold and silver coins and articles. It further describes the process of gilding by “covering the copper article with gold leaf and then polishing its outer surface and sides.”