The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville - Pot-pourri

is called ‘cast’ (fusilis). That which can only be poured
out is also called caldarius (lit. “suitable for heating”),
for it would be broken by a hammer. All bronze that has
its flaws diligently purged and heated out by fire is made
into regularis. 9.Among the types of bronze, Campanian
bronze is so named from Campania, that is, the province
that is in Italian territory. It is best for all utensils and
vessels.
10.Any bronze is cast better when great cold is applied.
Bronze rapidly develops a patina unless it is smeared with
oil. People say that it is best preserved in liquid pitch. 11.
Of all the metals, bronze is the most resounding and
has the greatest strength. For this reason, thresholds are
bronze, whenceinVergil(Aen. 1.449):
The hinge on the bronze doors screeched.
Bronze comes from cadmia (i.e. zinc oxide) and chalcitis
(i.e. copper pyrites). The drosses of bronze are cadmia
and verdigris, and the ‘bloom’ of bronze (i.e. cuprous
oxide). 12. Cadmia originates in furnaces from the metals
of bronze and silver as a result of the fumes settling above
them. Indeed, just as the ore from which bronze is made
is called cadmia,soitreappears in furnaces and receives
its original name. 13. Bronze‘bloom’is made or originates
in the casting process, when bronze is remelted
and reliquefied, and cold water is poured on top, for
the ‘bloom’ is produced from a sudden condensation,
as from spittle. 14.Bronze also generates verdigris: when
shreds of sheet bronze are placed over a vessel of very
sharp vinegar so that they start dripping, what falls from
this into the vinegar is pulverized and passed through a
sieve.
xxi. Iron (De ferro) 1. Iron (ferrum) is so named
because it buries the grain (far) ofthe earth, that is,
the seeds of crops. It is also called chalybs (“sword,” lit.
“steel”) from the river Chalybs where iron is tempered
to have the best edge. Whence the material itself is also
loosely called chalybs as in (Vergil, Aen. 8.446):
And the wound-inflicting steel (chalybs).
2. Theuse of iron was discovered after that of the other
metals. Later this kind of metal was turned into a symbol
of opprobrium,forlongago by iron the earth was
plowed, but now by iron blood is shed. There is no material
whose elements are so intertwined or adhere to each
other so densely as iron, whence it has a hardness when it
The Etymologies XVI.xx.9–xxi.7 331
is cold. Iron mines are found almost everywhere, but of
all the kinds of iron, the prize is given to Seric (i.e. Chinese)
iron. The Seres export this iron along with their
cloth and animal skins. Second place goes to Parthian
iron – none of the other kinds of iron are tempered to
an edge from the pure metal, for a softer alloy is mixed
in the others.
3.There are many differences in iron according to the
type of its earthy element. The one type is soft, close
to lead, and suitable for use in wheels and nails, while
another type is breakable and bronze-like, well suited for
tilling the earth. Another type is good in short lengths
only and for the nails in soldiers’ boots, and another is
quickly vulnerable to rust. These are all called strictura
(lit. “a mass of wrought iron,” or “an iron bar”), a word
not used for other metals, from ‘compressing’ (stringere,
ppl. strictus), a term aptly applied. There is a great difference
in the types of water in which the glowing iron
is plunged when it is tempered, such as the waters of
Bilbilis and Tirassona in Spain, and Como in Italy. 4.
In sharpening iron, the edge is made finer by using oil,
whence it is also customary for the more delicate iron
implements to be tempered in oil, lest they be hardened
by water to the point of fragility. Human blood
avenges itself oniron,foritveryquickly forms rust on
contact.
Magnetic stone has an affinity with iron, for iron alone
takes on the power of that stone and retains it for a long
time. A certain architect in Alexandria built a temple
vault from magnets, so that in it a statue made of iron
might seem to hang in the air. Iron that has been in the
fire is ruined unless it is hardened by hammering. When
it has become red it is not suitable for hammering – not
until it begins to get white. Iron smeared with vinegar or
alum becomes similar to bronze. 5. Thedrosses of iron
are rust and slag. Rust (robigo) isacorroding(rodere)
flaw of iron, or of crops, as if the word were rodigo,with
one letter changed. Also the word verdigris (aerugo) is
from ‘eroding’ (erodere) –forverdigrisisaflawiniron
so called from eroding – not from aerumentum (“bronze
object”). 6. But slag is the residue and impurity that is
heated out in the fire, and it is called slag (scoria)because
it is ‘cast out’ (excutere)ofiron.7.Ironwillbefreeofrust
if it is rubbed with white lead and gypsum and liquid
pitch. Also, rust does not damage iron implements if
they are smeared with deer marrow or white lead mixed
with oil of roses.