“Electrum”: Why was the same word used for amber and

3 4 t h I G C 2 0 1 5 – Vi l n i u s, L i t h u a n i a
Po s te r S e s s i o n s
“Electrum”: Why was the same word used for amber and for the naturally
occurring alloy of gold and silver?
John M. Saul
ORYX, Paris, France; [email protected]
Keywords electrum, amber, mythological ages, wandering rocks
In pagan tradition and in myth, the Golden Age was a time when men were immortal. In those times-that-neverwere, reproduction was unnecessary and women did not yet exist. By the mythic times of the Age of Silver, Death
had come and myth speaks of women and genealogies (Saul, 2013).
The transition from Gold to Silver is not clearly indicated, but a survey of diverse myths shows that that two subAges had been inserted between Gold and Silver. These sub-Ages had mythic and real properties intermediate
between gold and silver.
The First sub-Age was of Amber (electrum), in part because amber may have a color intermediate between gold and
silver. In myth, this sub-Age is characterized by “woody imagery”: amber, resin, trees (including Jupiter’s Oak),
acorns, acorn-eating pigs, woodpeckers, bees and honey (including Milk and Honey?), spears, javelins, black, black
charcoal, ravens, single-bladed axes, carpenter…
The Second sub-Age was of Electrum (the naturally occurring metallic alloy of gold and silver). In myth it was
indicated by electrum metal (Rossignol, 1863), alloys, swords, armor, chain mail, white, white charcoal, swans, doves,
bees and honey (including Milk and Honey?), double-bladed axes, smiths, son of carpenter…
The transition involved the crossing of a mythic river, celestial or terrestrial, the “River Eridanus”, in which amber or
electrum metal was supposedly found.
Both sub-Ages were characterized by wars and judgments – two manners of reaching decisions – destined to
decide whether humans merited a Return of the Golden Age.
The Golden Age was ruled by Saturn. The Silver Age was ruled by Jupiter/ Zeus. One or both sub-Ages of Electrum
were ruled by Mars, god of War and Judgments. These are planetary gods. Planets are “wandering stars” and gold,
silver, amber and electrum are “wandering rocks” whose essence “wanders” when heated in a charcoal fire.
References
Rossignol, J.-P., 1863. Les Métaux dans l'Antiquité: Origines religieuses De La Métallurgie, ou les dieux de la
Samothrace représentés comme métallurges d'après l'histoire et la géographie De L'Orichalque, histoire du cuivre
et de ses alliages suivie d'un appendice sur les substances appelées électre. Auguste Durand, Paris. 392 pp.
Saul, J., 2013. The Tale Told in All Lands. Les 3 Colonnes, Paris, 623 pp.
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