Copper in Ancient India c9.2

c9.2

The principal use of copper, besides in coinage, lies, as is well known, in making alloys. We would now proceed to give here a short account of the various alloys of copper used in ancient India, the most important being *riti* or *pittala* (brass) and *kāmsya* (bronze). That *kāmsya* meant bell-metal, also used in making gongs and other articles, is evident from a passage in Amarkosha’s lexicon (6th century A.D.) in which *kāmsya-tāla*-is mentioned as one of the many musical instruments prevalent in ancient India.¹ Bell-metal contains a greater percentage of tin than bronze.