Elemental lead does not occur in nature. Its major ore is galena (lead sulfide). With its low melting point and general softness, lead was undoubtedly one of the first metals to be smelted by early man.
The elemental symbol of lead, Pb, comes from the Latin plumbum, the same word from which plumber comes. A plumber dealt with lead pipes in ancient Rome and his professional title came from the word plumb “to drop down like a lump of lead,” the plumb line being a cord with a lead weight attached. Lead was used extensively in Rome from water pipes to table vessels and cups. Because the body does not excrete metallic lead, many upper class Romans died of cumulative metal poisoning from lead leached from their tableware by wine and other acidic juices. Despite its poisonous qualities, lead was used for centuries as a treatment for ulcers, inflammation, and blindness by the medical community.
Astrologically lead is said to belong to Saturn, Lord of Death. For this reason, coffins were often made of lead. The practice was abandoned when interment beneath Churches became the fashion. Due to the soft nature of the metal, coffins would often bulge with the contained gasses until they exploded sending the noxious fumes from the crypt to the Church above.
In medieval times, Saturn was the faintest and slowest moving planet visible and thus marking the limits of the known universe. Lead and the color black were supposed representatives of Saturn’s malevolent qualities, and charms of lead in those days were most likely formed with evil intent. Later occultists used lead for operations concerning patience or long-term results rather than evil. The magic square of Saturn
As the god of death, Saturn was also known as the god with ultimate knowledge of the future, and lead was used as a divinatory tool. Lead makes an excellent pendulum, and during the season of Saturnalia, a spoonful of molten lead may be thrown into cold water and auguries made from the shapes it makes as it solidifies.