Meaning of Logo

The meaning of the Metallum Group logo

The logo of the Metallum Group consists of four symbols for the metals tin, lead, zinc and copper. These metal icons were "secret signs" of the alchemists - the chemists and metallurgists of the Middle Ages. In the belief that metals were the work of supernatural forces they assigned them to particular planets. The latter are named after gods in ancient Rome, which in turn had "counterparts" in Greek mythology. Derivatives of the Greek spelling eventually led to the symbols.

Symbol for Copper

The alchemists assigned copper to the planet Venus (Greek Aphrodite) because copper was mined in Cyprus in Roman times, and here, according to tradition, the goddess Venus was born.

Symbol for Tin

Here the planet Jupiter (Greek Zeus) was the inspiration. Zeus, the creator of thunder, just like tin, that gives copper (in the form of bronze) hardness and bells "the sound of thunder".

Symbol for Lead

For the alchemists this metal was symbolised by the planet Saturn (Greek Cronos). Lead has the ability to dissolve ("swallow") other metals, like the god Cronos, who devoured his own offspring because he thought it would give him a long life.

Symbol for Zinc

Zinc is not among the seven metals which were already known in medieval times. For this reason a more detailed explanation of this symbol does not exist.

According to Prof. Gotthard Björling, CIM Bulletin, January 1991