In the practice of alchemy, cinnabar is the raw material from which mercury can be derived. It has also been used in other capacities for centuries. The ancient Mayans, for example, spread cinnabar in and around tombs and on the bodies of the deceased to discourage robbers. A prime example of this practice was found in the tomb of King Pakal the Great of Palenque.

Cinnabar of Antimony, hence this symbol's resemblance to the symbol for Antimony, was an artificial form of Cinnabar Vermillion created by heating Corrosive Sublimate (HgCl₂) together with Stibnite (Non-Regulus Antimony, or Sb₂S₃), to make it.