Carnelian – orange, red-orange chalcedony. Chalcedony composed of fine quartz crystals and has a fibrous structure. Orange-red and orange-yellow-pink chalcedony called carnelian. Dark specimens of cornelian brown-red color called carnelian.
Cornelian is a stone with weak radioactive properties, which requires a gold frame. It is often called the July gem. He gives his owners love, marital happiness, health, courage. In ancient Egypt, household and ritual ornaments were made from carnelian, which was dedicated to the goddess Isis. The symbol of the goddess Isis is reminiscent of a three-leaf clover – it was carved on the cornelian – on clasps, on the rings, and thus they asked the great goddess, the “mother of the gods,” for protection after death.
Red carnelian was considered the stone of the martyr Bartholomew.
In the Middle Ages, carnelian jewelry was very popular, because at that time it was believed that this beautiful stone could defeat black magic, protect it from ill-will, help to keep secrets, give courage to the owner, reconcile quarrels, keep from evil spells and lightning. It was also believed that the carnelian sharpens the sense of touch and protects against the waste of vital forces.
Carnelian promotes the treatment of fever and nerve diseases, strengthens the teeth, regulates menstruation, and has bactericidal properties.
Carnelian necklace is recommended to be worn in case of goiter. If you put carnelian on the eyelids of closed eyes, it helps with headaches. Women kept carnelian in the mouth during labor.
Carnelian, worn suspended (necklace, beads, rosary, etc.), is able to increase anger. Therefore, it is recommended to wear it in rings – then it calms the heartbeat, contributes to the favorable response of another person to this or that request. In ancient time’s carnelian was divided into “male” and “female.” Reddish carnelian was considered “masculine”, and orange-yellow – “feminine.”
Carnelian helps food digestion, searches for a way out of any life situations, is useful for the circulatory system, protects against infections, and regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland.
The name “carnelian” comes from the Greek word sardolith – a stone from Sard. Other names of the mineral and its varieties: blood agate, linkuria, carnelis, sarder.
The name of the stone comes from the Old Russian “shape as the heart.” This is the collective name of chalcedony (a cryptocrystalline variety of silicon dioxide) sarder (from Sardis – the name of the capital of the Lydian kingdom, located near the Aegean coast of modern Turkey), carnelis (from the Latin cornum – cornel), linkuri.
Carnelian, sarder, carnelian – one of the few names of precious stones that have reached us through the millennia with virtually no changes. The oldest obsolete now synonymous with the name “carnelian” were “akik”, “akkler” and “demion”.
Features of education. Carnelian was formed as a result of ancient volcanic processes in the bubbles (tonsils) of lava flows and volcanic vent formations, where it occurs together with agate and other colored chalcedony species. But many geologists believe that it acquires its saturated color already on the surface, after the destruction of the volcanic rocks bearing it, including under the influence of sunlight.
The field of the best carnelian in Russia is Eastern Siberia: the Zeya River basin (Amur region), Yakutia, Chukotka, Buryatia, southeast of the Chita region; of foreign deposits, it is worth mentioning, probably, India (Deccan Highlands, Gujarat), Mongolia, USA (Montana), Madagascar Island, Uruguay, and Brazil.
Application. The first products made from carnelian (the oldest tools of labor) were found during the excavation of the sites of a Paleolithic man (800-60 thousand years BC). As a material for the manufacture of jewelry, amulets, talismans and cult objects, carnelian has been used since the times of the early Neolithic period (18 thousand years BC).
This remarkable stone was most popular in ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, in the Middle East, in Russia and in medieval Europe. It was valued much higher than many precious stones and metals are known at that time, for example, in the 4th century AD carnelian ranked fifth in value among diamond, pearl, emerald, noble opal, carnelian, red carbuncles (spinel, ruby, garnet) and then gold, silver, sapphire, and topaz.
From it was made amulets, rings, other jewelry, carved seals, cameos, intalo, figurines, cups, crosses. Carnelian is a traditional material for making jewelry. Carnelian was generally loved by many great and famous people: the history included pendants and a favorite vessel of carnelian with the eye shadow of Queen Cleopatra (69–30 BC), belt buckle decorated with the “Shattermaster of the Universe” carnelian Tamerlan , the seal of the last Hetman of Ukraine, Cyril Razumovsky, Byron’s ring-mascot, according to legend, presented to him in Greece by the Gypsy Hataje (in fact, he was presented to the poet by his friend Edlston, ostensibly as a token of thanks for saving his life).
In ancient Egypt, the carnelian was likened to the “sunset sunk in stone”, was considered the stone of the goddess Isis (mother of all gods), able to bring wealth and glory, to ensure a quiet descent into the afterlife and a sweet stay in it. According to the testimony of J. Kuntz, the 156th chapter of the Egyptian Book of the Dead begins with these words: “The head is about a buckle made of carnelian placed on the neck of the deceased. Isis blood, Isis virtue, Isis magic power, Magical power of the Eye protecting this Great (deceased) – they will turn away any evil that threatens him. ”
It is no coincidence that, apparently, carnelian products, including images of the sacred scarab beetle, are constantly found in ancient Egyptian burials. On the mummy of Pharaoh Tutankhamen (XIV century BC) various carnelian products were found: a snake’s head (to protect against snakes in the afterlife), heart-shaped pendants (personifying the ever-living soul), an image of the mythical Phoenix bird with a sun disk on the back and many others. In the so-called “Ebers papyrus” (“Book for the preparation of medicines for all parts of the human body”), compiled in ancient Egypt more than 3,500 years BC, there is a special section on stone treatment, where carnelian is also mentioned.
The data on the healing and miraculous properties of carnelian are contained in ancient Chinese, ancient Indian, Roman, and chiropods, ancient Greek Assyrian-Babylonian cynography, the writings of Arabic and Persian authors, medieval Transcaucasian and European lapidarians (books on the healing properties of mastras, and non-whites). , Agrippa Nettesheim, Paracelsus, George Agricola, Boethius de Boot and many other famous doctors, scientists, mystics. In Turkey and Persia in the XVII-XVIII centuries. Rings with carnelian, on which the owner’s name was engraved, were very popular; such a ring was considered a personal talisman.
In general, carnelian is one of the favorite stones of Muslims who engraved on the rings of the sayings from the Koran and considered such adornment to be a holy relic. The Prophet Muhammad, who wore a ring with a cornelian on the little finger of his right hand, is credited with the following sayings: “who wears a cornelian in the ring, he is constantly in prosperity and joy” and “wear a ring with a cornelian, for he truly expels poverty.” Which, however, did not prevent Allah’s vicar on Earth, according to Biruni’s testimony, after the capture of Mecca in the 7th century? order to break the statue of a pagan deity – Hubal’s idol, carved from a whole piece of carnelian, and apparently, the largest of the famous historical carnelian articles. Another famous Muslim, Imam Jafar, said that all desires of a person wearing a cornelian are fulfilled by the will of Allah.
In Russia, cornelian has been known and loved since ancient times. During the excavations of the oldest Slavic settlements, carnelian beads are often found. The synonyms of his name at that time were “smear” and “kadnos”. The first book in Russia, containing information about the special properties of stones, was the so-called. “Izbornik Svyatoslav” (1073), translated from ancient Greek and later supplemented by borrowing from the Greek-Latin sources, which already mentioned cornelian.
In the medieval Russian “Alphabet Book” it says: “… the carnelian is red like blood, transparent … depicts the flame of faith.” In Russia, carnelian was often used in the manufacture of religious objects (panagias, miters, crosses, icon salaries), the cross of the archimandrite of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Innocent (Gizel) decorated with amethyst, garnet, rock crystal, and four large carnelians. Modern Russia has not lost interest in this wonderful stone.
Physical properties
As a healing agent, carnelian has been known since ancient times. It was used by Egyptian healers for diseases of the nervous system. In Europe, carnelian worn into powder was diluted with wine and taken as a medicine for diseases such as arrhythmia, hearing loss, hypertension, and headache. It is believed that the powder from this stone can improve blood circulation, stop internal bleeding, and heal kidney disease. Modern with therapists suggest that this stone should be worn on the body to get rid of ulcers, tumors, and during migraines, small polished pieces should be placed on closed eyelids.
Cornelian affects frontal chakra.
In many countries of the world, carnelian personifies love, faith, family happiness. In ancient Russia, this stone was considered a love talisman, and in ancient Greece, wedding gems were carved from it. In Eastern countries, carnelian was used to make amulets that could protect their masters from evil spells, envy, the evil eye, and dashing people. Cornelian is a stone of people born under the signs of the Virgin and Gemini. Virgo he helps to cope with uncontrolled anger, Gemini gives you the opportunity to discover the hidden talents and develop them. Finally, Healing Stones is the best options for you.