An ancient people of Asia Minor (near the Black Sea) who were famous in classical antiquity for their advanced knowledge and skill in working with iron and steel.
From Latin Chalybes, derived from Greek Χάλυβες (Chalybes), the name of this Anatolian people. Their reputation for metalworking was so legendary that classical writers attributed almost magical properties to their craft.
The Chalybes were so skilled at making steel that ancient Greek and Roman writers basically credited them with inventing the technology—but ironically, we know almost nothing about them archaeologically because they left few permanent records, yet their reputation echoed through all of classical literature!
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