gold
Gold Myths, Legends and Amazing Facts
For more than 6,000 years, gold has played a role in human history. During that time, much has been said and written about the precious metal—some true, some false and some just fascinating to note. Gathered here are some of the stories often told about the 79th element in the periodic table.
The Golden Age – This was the name given by ancient Greeks to the first age of man. It was presided over by Astraea, the deity of Justice. It was a time of peace, harmony, stability, prosperity, innocence and simplicity, untainted by the corruptions of civilization. Today, any period of abundance may be referred to a “golden age.”
Gold and Gods – In Egypt, gold is closely linked to RA, the Sun God, which parallels the Japanese belief that gold was the metal of Amaterasu, the Japanese Sun Goddess. Norse legends describe gold palaces in Asgard, home of the gods, and associate the precious metal with the goddess Freyja, who ruled over many aspects of life, including love, beauty, fertility, war and death. Also, the immortal golden dragon with five claws on each foot has served as a symbol for the emperor in many Chinese dynasties.
The Golden Fleece – The Greek tale of Jason and the Argonauts refers to a search for a Golden Fleece with magical healing powers. Surprisingly, such fleece (sans supernatural properties) actually existed in the ancient kingdom of Colchis on the Black Sea. Rivers there carried alluvial gold dust down from the mountains of the Caucasus. Local miners spread sheepskins in stream beds and the wool would trap specks of gold.
The Midas Touch – In return for a favor, mythical King Midas of Phrygia was rewarded by the god of wine, Dionysus (aka Bacchus), so that everything he touched turned to gold. This blessing, however, turned out to be a curse, since the king could not touch food or even his own daughter. By washing in the River Pactolus near the Aegean coast of Turkey, he was able to rid himself of the power. Much real gold was later found in the waters flowing down from Mount Tmolus (now Bozdağ).
Pots of Gold – In Irish folklore, the Faerie realm is populated by “wee folk” called leprechauns. They are shoemakers who store their wealth of gold in pots that they have hidden in the countryside. Among their magical powers is the ability to grant wishes if captured.
Nowadays, a “pot of gold” may refer to any hidden or discovered treasure. “Pot of Gold” is also a form of cash lottery held at social functions and fundraisers, whereby half the money collected goes to the winner and half to the sponsoring organization.
The Magic of Gold – Gold has often been referred to as the “king of metals,” imbued with godlike magical powers. Egyptians buried gold with their pharaohs; their hieroglyphs portray gold as the brilliance of the sun.
Talismans and amulets made of gold are said to attract healing, power, wisdom, happiness, money and success. Gemstones set in gold are said to magnify in power. Similarly, gold jewelry is alleged to enhance a conjuror’s ability to rouse and send forth power.
Gold in Alchemy – Long before chemistry was a science, Islamic alchemists knew gold as one of the “seven sacred bodies,” the others being silver, mercury, copper, lead, iron and tin. In the 17th century, followers of the secret science saw it as their supreme quest to change lead (atomic number 82) into gold (atomic number 79).
Such transmutation is theoretically possible, but a staggering amount of energy would be required to cause lead to release the three protons necessary for this to happen. It is economically unviable.
Gold in Astrology – Gold is closely associated with the male energy of the sun. Astrologers attribute the faculty of self-awareness to the metal, along with masculine energies, illumination, decisiveness, initiative and self-expression.
The Spirit of Gold – Gold is often associated with the “crown chakra” or “third-eye.”
It is said to prevent spiritual corrosion, promote complete understanding and clear away negativity. Wearing gold everyday supposedly increases personal power by promoting courage, confidence and will power.
Gold Rush – In 1848, great quantities of gold were discovered by prospectors in California. The following year, tens of thousands of gold-seekers nicknamed “forty-niners” flocked to the area, tripling the population. In 1850, California became America’s 31st state—“The Golden State”—and today a professional football franchise in San Francisco still commemorates the historic “gold rush” by calling its team the “49ers.”
Gold Dentistry – The very first use of gold as a dental material dates back to 600 B.C., when the Etruscans began using wire made of gold to secure substitute teeth. Because gold is bio-compatible, malleable and corrosion resistant, it is still valuable in dental applications, especially as fillings, caps and crowns.
Modern Gold Applications – Gold-bonded microchips were pioneered by Bell Laboratories in 1961. Each space shuttle constructed in the 1980s required 41 kilograms of gold for fuel cells, electrical contacts and other components.
Today, virtually every cell phone manufactured contains gold in its circuitry. Medically, gold is also used in Auranofin, a gold-based pharmaceutical used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, as well as in Niroyal, a form of gold-plated stent used in heart surgery.
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