Editing Carnelian (section)

==History==
[[image:Korwin signet-ring1.PNG|thumb|upright=1.1|Polish [[signet ring]] in light-orange carnelian [[engraved gem|intaglio]] showing [[Korwin coat of arms]]]]

The red variety of chalcedony has been known to be used as beads since the Early Neolithic in Bulgaria. The first faceted (with constant 16+16=32 facets on each side of the bead) carnelian beads are described from the Varna [[Chalcolithic]] necropolis (middle of the 5th millennium BC).{{sfnp|Kostov|Pelevina|2008}} The [[bow drill]] was used to drill holes into carnelian in [[Mehrgarh]] in the 4th–5th millennium BC.<ref name=Kulke&R.>Kulke, Hermann & Rothermund, Dietmar (2004). ''A History of India''. Routledge. 22. {{ISBN|0-415-32920-5}}.</ref>
Carnelian was recovered from [[Bronze Age]] [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] layers at [[Knossos]] on [[Crete]] in a form that demonstrated its use in decorative arts;<ref>C. Michael Hogan, [http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10854/knossos.html#fieldnotes ''Knossos fieldnotes'', Modern Antiquarian (2007)]</ref> this use dates to approximately 1800 [[Before the Common Era|BC]]. Carnelian was used widely during Roman times to make [[engraved gems]] for signet or [[seal ring]]s for imprinting a seal with wax on correspondence or other important documents, as hot wax does not stick to carnelian.<ref>Section 12 of the translation of ''Weilue'' - a 3rd-century Chinese text by John Hill under "carnelian" and note 12.12 (17)</ref> Sard was used for [[Assyria]]n [[cylinder seal]]s, [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] and [[Phoenicia]]n [[Scarab (artifact)|scarabs]], and early [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] and Etruscan gems.<ref name="1911EB_sard">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Sard}}</ref> The [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] ''odem'' (also translated as ''sardius''), was the first stone in the [[Hoshen|High Priest's breastplate]], a red stone, probably sard but perhaps red [[jasper]].<ref name="1911EB_sard" /> In [[Revelation 4|Revelation 4:3]], the One seated on the heavenly throne seen in the vision of [[John the Apostle]] is said to "look like jasper and {{lang|grc|σαρδίῳ}} (''sardius'' transliterated)." And likewise it is in Revelation 21:20 as one of the precious stones in the foundations of the wall of the heavenly city.<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|4:3|NRSV}}</ref>
[[image:Carnelian intaglio Prolemaic queen CdM Paris.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Carnelian [[engraved gem|intaglio]]  with a [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemaic]] queen, Hellenistic artwork, [[Cabinet des Médailles]], [[BnF Museum]], Paris]]

There is a [[Neo-Assyrian]] seal made of carnelian in the Western Asiatic Seals collection of the [[British Museum]] that shows [[Ishtar]]-[[Gula (goddess)|Gula]] as a star goddess. She is holding a ring of royal authority and is seated on a throne. She is shown with the spade of [[Marduk]] (his symbol), Sibbiti (seven) gods, the stylus of [[Nabu]] and a worshiper. An 8th century BC carnelian seal from the collection of the [[Ashmolean Museum]] in Oxford shows Ishtar-Gula with her dog facing the spade of Marduk and his red dragon.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dalley |first1=Stephanie |title=Esther's Revenge at Susa: From Sennacherib to Ahasuerus |date=29 November 2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780199216635 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G5gSDAAAQBAJ&pg=PR14 |access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref>