Was mercury familiar to our ancestors?

There are evidences that suggest that mercury was known to humans before at least a thousand years. Mercury has been found in Egyptian tombs that date back to 1500 BC. The ancient Chinese and Indians were familiar with the liquid metal. In fact, our ancestors thought of mercury as the first matter from which all metals were formed.

In countries like India, China and Tibet, it was believed that mercury could prolong life, heal fractures, and maintain good health. While the ancient Greeks used mercury in ointments, the Romans used it to make cosmetics.

Our ancestors believed that varying the quality and quantity of sulphur contained within the mercury could produce different metals. They even tried to transform mercury into gold. Needles to say, they were not successful!

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