The carnelian stone is a deeply religious stone as the Egyptian goddess Isis would use it to protect dead people during their trip. This is how Egyptians engraved some parts of the Book of the Dead on carnelian amulets. They were meant to help having an easier access to the other world. It was also worn by architects in order to indicate their social status
Egyptians used to call it "sunset". It is because of its red color and as a symbol of blood that this stone is so omnipresent in Egyptian beliefs.
Romans would use carnelians a lot to make seals because the hot wax would not stick to this stone. It was also used to make jewels. You will mainly find rings with a carnelian that will be sculpted in the shape of a wild animal. It was meant to give protection and luck.
Greeks and Romans would wear signet rings with a carnelian. Some were engraved with numbers representing the god Sarapis or the goddess Isis who was both linked to time and death.
Hebrews would think that the carnelian would protect them from the plague.
It is also the symbol of the apostle Philip and it was one of the stone of Aaron’s breastplate as described in the Exodus. According to the archbishop of Mayence (1st century), it was the symbol of the martyr’s blood.
The seal of Mahomet is a sculpted carnelian, bezel set on a sterling silver ring.
"Phyllis" ring with carnelian
In the Arabian tradition, it was thought that the carnelian had the power to stop bleeding.
Alchemists in the Middle-Ages would consider it as a hot stone, that is to say that it had the ability to activate the healing properties of the other stones.
Today, Buddhists from China, India and Tibet, believe in the protecting powers of the carnelian stone and go on with the Egyptian tradition of having it bezel set with turquoise and lapis lazuli to increase its power.
