Hepatizon
Mythological · Legendary · Ancient
A lost copper alloy of antiquity, described by Pliny the Elder as producing a unique liver-brown color with violet highlights. More prized than gold for ritual objects among Roman elites.
Identity
- Source
- Greek / Roman antiquity, recorded by Pliny the Elder
- Aliases
- Black Corinthian Bronze, Liver-colored bronze
Physical Properties
- Appearance
- Deep liver-brown with a subtle violet-purple sheen under torchlight
- Luster
- Metallic
- Density
- 8.7 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 900 °C
- Boiling point
- 1700 °C
- Lighter
- Veinstone Metal
- Denser
- Orium
- Magnetism
- Non-magnetic
- Electrical conductivity
- High
Mechanical Properties
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Tensile strength
- 400 MPa
- Softer
- White Gold
- Harder
- Cold Iron
- Workability
- Moderate
- Brittleness
- Moderate
- Malleability
- High
- Ductility
- High
Chemical Properties
- Corrosion resistance
- moderate
- Reactivity
- low
Lore & Narrative
The exact formula was lost with the sack of Corinth in 146 BC. Modern metallurgists have proposed it may have been a copper-gold-silver alloy darkened through deliberate patination, but no recreation has matched the ancient descriptions.
- Notable uses
- Imperial statuary, ritual vessels, high-status personal items
- Forge uses
- statuary, ritual vessels, ornamentation
- Worldbuilding traits
- lost, imperial, ritual, Ancient
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