Carnelian's role in history, culture and religion.
This section of JewelrySupplier.com is intended to uncover references in history to gems, gemstones, minerals, crystals, precious metals and semi-precious stones and to investigate the role they played in the development of the cultures in which they were utilized. We believe examples of royal jewelry and ancient jewelry from anthropology, sociology and archaeology from the ancient societies of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and especially the work of Pre-Columbian American cultures of the North American Indians, Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans to be of craftsmanship that has not been equaled since. Where possible in our history of jewelry, we’ve tried to include methods of manufacture, materials and technology. From the bible, commerce, celestial beliefs to modern crystal collecting.
Carnelian has long held a presence in world history and the beliefs and customs of ancient civilizations. From Europe, to Asia, to the Middle East, Archaeologists have found examples of Carnelian use.
Carnelian
in the Middle East
Some of the oldest examples of human jewelry contained Carnelian. At
an excavation site in Ur, archaeologists uncovered the tomb of Pu-Abi, a
Sumerian Queen from the third millennium, B.C. She wore a robe that
contained Carnelian, along with other precious and semi-precious
materials. Ancient Egyptian tombs are full of examples of Carnelian
jewels, because of their belief in the stone’s power in the afterlife.
According to their system, amulets of Carnelian could prove helpful in
ensuring the Ka’s (the soul’s) passage into the next world. The
Egyptians so revered the power of the stone that it was one of three used
most often in their jewelry, along with turquoise and lapis lazuli.
Elsewhere in the middle East, Carnelian represents the Hebrew tribe of
Reuben and the Apostle Phillip and some Muslims call it the Mecca stone.
Muslim tenets hold that engraving the name of Allah on Carnelian stones
boosts courage and some even believed that Allah would grant all the
desires of wearers of the stone. In Hebrew literature, Carnelian appears
as a stone in Aaron’s breastplate.
European
Carnelian
In Europe, Carnelian has also been an important symbol in history.
Ancient Greeks and Romans called it Sardius and used the stone for signet
rings, cameos and intaglios. In more modern times, Goethe attributed the
powers of protection against evil, of continuation of hope and comfort,
and of good luck.
Asian
Carnelian
In Asia, Tibetans created amulets of silver with generous applications,
much as the Egyptians used these same stones,
of Carnelian, Turquoise and Lapis Lazuli. In India, Hindu astrology
names Carnelian as the secondary stone of Scorpios.
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