Ferrum Caeleste
Mythological · Legendary · Ancient
Roman priests of Vulcan described a celestial iron said to fall from Jupiter's domain in the form of sacred meteorites. Unlike common meteoric iron, ferrum caeleste was believed to be deliberately cast down by the gods as gifts to chosen smiths.
Identity
- Source
- Roman mythology
- Aliases
- Celestial iron, Fer du ciel, Divine iron
Physical Properties
- Appearance
- White-gold luminosity with faint star-like sparks visible within the metal grain at certain angles
- Luster
- Metallic
- Density
- 9.5 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 3800 °C
- Boiling point
- 7000 °C
- Lighter
- Vibranium
- Denser
- Bismuth
- Magnetism
- Ferromagnetic
- Electrical conductivity
- High
Mechanical Properties
- Mohs hardness
- 9
- Tensile strength
- 2800 MPa
- Softer
- Chromium
- Harder
- Divine Bronze of Hephaestus
- Workability
- Difficult
- Brittleness
- Tough
- Malleability
- Moderate
- Ductility
- Moderate
Chemical Properties
- Corrosion resistance
- absolute
- Reactivity
- none
Lore & Narrative
The Ancile, the sacred shield of Mars that fell from heaven into the reign of Numa Pompilius, was believed to be fashioned from ferrum caeleste. The Romans made eleven copies of it; if the original were ever lost among the copies, the protection of Rome would be destroyed.
- Notable uses
- Divine shields, sacred weapons of generals, temple offerings
- Forge uses
- divine shields, sacred weapons
- Worldbuilding traits
- divine, roman, meteoric, protective
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