Underwater exploration has brought a great number of anchors to light. Until the 1st millennium BC anchors were crudely constructed. They were stones with a hole bored through them. In Homer anchors are called “ευνή”and the term will become “άγκυρα” in the 5th century BC. Anchors of the past had a simpler shape than today’s. In Roman times the beak or tooth and mooring ring were made of cast lead. The strongest anchor was called “ιερά” and its mooring ring would often be decorated with images averting evil. On two anchors found in French waters the emblems of a dolphin and knuckles on one and of the carved word ΣΩΤΕΙΡΑ on the other serve this same purpose of averting evil.