Hepatizon (Greek etymology: ἧπαρ, English translation: "liver"), also known as black Corinthian bronze, was a highly valuable metal alloy in classical antiquity. It is thought to be an alloy of copper with the addition of a small proportion of gold and silver (perhaps as little as 8% of each), mixed and treated to produce a material with a dark purplish patina, similar to the colour of liver. It is referred to in various ancient texts, but few known examples of hepatizon exist today.
Of the known types of bronze or brass in classical antiquity (known in Latin as aes and in Greek as χαλκός), hepatizon was the second most valuable. Pliny the Elder mentions it in his Natural History, stating that it is less valuable than Corinthian bronze, which contained a greater proportion of gold or silver and as a result resembled the precious metals, but was esteemed before bronze from Delos and Aegina.[1][2] As a result of its dark colour, it was particularly valued for statues.[3] According to Pliny, the method of making it, like that for Corinthian bronze, had been lost for a long time.
Similar alloys are found outside Europe. For example, shakudō is a Japanese billon of gold and copper with a characteristic dark blue-purple patina.
^Aes, from A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875.
^Pliny's chapter on Corinthian Brass and hepatizon, Chapter 3 of Book 34 from Natural History.
^Jacobson, David M. (2000). "Corinthian Bronze and the Gold of the Alchemists". Gold Bulletin. 33 (3): 60–66. doi:10.1007/BF03216582.
Hepatizon (Greek etymology: ἧπαρ, English translation: "liver"), also known as black Corinthian bronze, was a highly valuable metal alloy in classical...
Black bronze can refer to: Hepatizon, also known as black Corinthian bronze Shakudō, a Japanese decorative billon This disambiguation page lists articles...
Corinthian bronze – Highly valuable metal alloy in classical antiquity Hepatizon – Alloy also known as Black Corinthian Bronze Electrum – Alloy of gold...
highly valued for its use in gold coins from the 16th century onwards Hepatizon Orichalcum – another distinct metal or alloy mentioned in texts from classical...
resistant to tarnishing. Pliny also refers to a fourth, dark alloy, known as hepatizon. Petronius and other authors mocked the connoisseurs of their day who...
Corinthian bronze – Highly valuable metal alloy in classical antiquity Hepatizon – Alloy also known as Black Corinthian Bronze (Black bronze) Electrum –...
as in mokume-gane processes. Shakudō Shibuichi Corinthian bronze and hepatizon (Black bronze) Electrum Orichalcum Panchaloha Tumbaga Untracht, Oppi (d...
family Urocyclidae. Species within the genus Rhysotina include: Rhysotina hepatizon (Gould, 1845) Rhysotina sublaevis G. A. Holyoak & D. T. Holyoak, 2016...
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