This is illustrated by many ancient Scandinavian weapons in the museum at Copenhagen, which indicate the greatest parsimony in the use of steel at a period when both gold and copper appear to have been comparatively abundant.
The knowledge of smelting and working in iron, like most other arts, came from the East.

Iron was especially valued for purposes of war, of which indeed it was regarded as the symbol, being called "Mars" by the Romans.[6] We find frequent mention of it in the Bible.

One of the earliest notices of the metal is in connexion with the conquest of Judea by the Philistines.

To complete the subjection of the Israelites, their conquerors made captive all the smiths of the land, and carried them away.

The Philistines felt that their hold of the country was insecure so long as the inhabitants possessed the means of forging weapons.