In ancient times, amber was thought to have magical powers. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed it could protect people against sorcerers and disease, so they wore it. The reason amber was believed to have these mysterious powers was its ability to become electrified. When a piece of amber is rubbed briskly, a charge of electricity is produced. This makes amber attract light articles, such as bits of paper. The Greek name for amber was elektron, and this is the origin of our word “electricity.”