There are numerous legendary accounts regarding the invention of magnets. One major theory is of Magnes, an aged shepherd, whose toe nails, shoes and his staff’s tip got stuck to a huge, black rock upon, which he stood while herding his flock of sheep. This occurred in magnesia, Northern Greece roughly 4000 years ago. This sort of rock was consequently named magnetite, in reference to either Magnes himself or Magnesia. Magnetism stories date backwards since the 1st century B.C according to the Lucretius writings as well as the magnetite magical powers mentioned in Pliny the Elder’s writings.
After magnetite was discovered, superstition surrounded it and it was assumed that it possessed magical powers including an ability of healing the sick,
Magenetic balls
frightening evil spirits away and attracting and dissolving iron-made ships. Unlike amber, magnetite was capable of attracting objects without necessarily being rubbed and not only was it attracted to iron-made objects, but while in a needle-shaped and floating on water, it created an ancient compass that pointed in a north to south direction. William Gilbert was the first scientist to realize that the entire earth was a gigantic magnet capable of being made after wrought iron was beat and discovered that heating iron diminished induced magnetism in iron.