 Jerusalem Metalworks
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The Romans are masters in the use of all kinds of metal: gold, silver, lead, copper, tin, zinc, iron, bronze. Indeed, some parts of the empire – such as in Asia Minor – are important to Rome principally because of their supplies of precious metals. Working in the mines, a task carried out almost entirely by slaves, is one of the worst possible occupations, with appalling conditions and terrible death rates. However, the metal that they produce is central to the success of the empire. Whether it is iron used for the weapons and amour of the legions, or gold and silver for coins, the empire depends on it for its very survival.
The Romans are also great users of metal for aesthetic purposes. Small workshops and itinerant metalworkers produce huge quantities of jewelry and other decorative items. Some towns also come to depend for prosperity on the metalworking skills of their inhabitants. For example, one of the reasons why the Christian missionary, Paul, gets such a rough ride when he visits Ephesus is that his preaching is seen as a threat to the cult of Diana, around which the townsfolk have grown wealthy by selling silver trinkets to pilgrims to her temple.
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The Silversmith (1 posts)
The Blacksmith Shop (2 posts)
Roman Tools (* Germaniae Flavius, Oct 10, 2007 - 20:10 ) Medical Tools (* Germaniae Flavius, Oct 10, 2007 - 20:07 ) The Gold Smith (- posts)
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