Carnelian (carnelian) is a chalcedony that has been known to people for 8 centuries. There are various options regarding the origin of its name. According to one of them, the name of the mineral goes back to the Old Russian language. Its deep purple color has led to comparisons to a heart. This is not surprising, since after processing, carnelian resembles an anatomically correct heart.
The inhabitants of Ancient Greece called it “sardolith”. This meant that it was brought from Sardis, the capital of Lydia (an ancient state located on the coast of the Aegean Sea). The Romans believed that the gem was similar to dogwood berries, which were called “cornum”.
For thousands of years, special medicinal and magical properties have been attributed to carnelian. It was used during rituals and ceremonies.
History of the stone
Carnelian stone has long been known to people. The first mentions of it date back to the era of Ancient Egypt. Servants of cults ground the nugget into powder and added it in certain doses to the liquids that were given to the sick. This mixture helped with kidney pathologies, as well as with migraines. Wearing talismans with carnelian helped to accumulate internal energy; the ancient Egyptians were sure that such an amulet would prolong life.
The Egyptians placed ritual objects made of stone inside tombs to facilitate the journey of the deceased through the afterlife. The nugget was also used in everyday life, cutting out scarab beetles from it. This insect was revered in Egypt. The gem was recognized as the stone of the great goddess Isis. It was used to make fasteners for clothes in the shape of a clover with three petals. People called carnelian “the sunset of the sun, which froze in the mineral.”
The ancient Sumerians also associated the nugget with a female deity. The University of Pennsylvania Museum contains a rarity - the costume of the ancient priestess Inana, found during the excavation of the tomb of the great Queen Pu-Abi. It is made of gold, carnelian and lapis lazuli. The weight of this robe is 6.5 kg. Carnelians were also often discovered during excavations of Paleolithic layers. Even cave people used it to make household items, primitive tools, ritual accessories and beads.
The Scythians also used stone. They made jewelry from it, which was discovered during excavations of ancient burial mounds. Similar archaeological finds were discovered in Transcaucasia, Crimea, Central Asia and the Middle East. In Mongolia, the gem was sewn in the form of balls onto hats. The number of such decorations indicated the social status of a person. Often the mineral was divided according to gender. In Georgia, women's burials contained necklaces made of soft pink stone. In men's graves, jewelry containing a bright red nugget is found.
Carnelian - like a long-known medicine
In ancient times, the mineral was also used for treatment. Thus, in the famous Ebers papyrus, which dates back to the 4th century BC, among other gems, there is a mention of carnelian - carnelian, as a means for making medicines that can treat diseases of various parts of the body.
Information about the healing properties of the stone is found in almost all medical treatises in the world, written in ancient times - in ancient Indian, ancient Indian, ancient Greek. It is also found in ancient Assyro-Babylonian cuneiform texts, in treatises by Persian and Arab scholars, and in medieval European lapidaries.
Famous healers Biruni, Avicenna, Agrippa Nettesheim, Paracelsus, Albertus Magnus, and George Agricola spoke about the healing properties of carnelian.
For medicinal purposes, carnelian was worn in the form of jewelry or plates, and also ground into powder, infused with water or wine, and taken as medicine. The stone was used to treat hypertension, heart disease, and the nervous system. They believed that the stone improved the composition of the blood, activated its movement, and at the same time had the ability to stop internal bleeding.
Nowadays, lithotherapists recommend wearing carnelian plates and jewelry for the treatment of benign and malignant tumors, ulcers, migraines, and thyroid diseases. Polished plates can be applied to closed eyelids for eye pressure and migraines.
Properties of carnelian
The mineral can act as a wonderful amulet; it heals diseases, but can also attract misfortune. Let's take a closer look at all the properties of this stone.
Physical
The nugget has a trigonal arrangement of crystals, its hardness is similar to quartz. This is a red variety of common chalcedony. This shade is provided by iron oxide. The best samples are obtained in India, since there the stone is lightened under the sun. Ultraviolet light turns brown fragments orange or red. Externally, the polished mineral resembles glass shards.
Magical
The ancient chronicles are full of praise for the Carnelian. Since this mineral has the colors of the sun and blood, our ancestors attributed the following characteristics to it:
- resists black magic;
- protects against diseases;
- makes a person fearless;
- fills the owner with strength;
- protects against waste of energy;
- protects against quarrels, conspiracies;
- excites passion;
- lifts the mood;
- bestows wealth.
The nugget is used as a love stone; it is placed under the tongue when casting love spells. The gem saves from impotence and connects the owner with his astral half.
Medicinal
This mineral has healing qualities. Nowadays, therapists often advise using the stone externally, through tactile contact. It is recommended to be worn for psychological disorders, since the gem has certain sedative properties, eliminating depression and overcoming insomnia. Elderly people should wear jewelry containing this mineral. It sharpens hearing and eliminates senile dementia. Carnelian normalizes blood pressure and prevents tumors from developing. To improve cardiac activity and strengthen blood vessels, it is recommended to wear a nugget framed with metal on the finger.
Women whose work involves mental activity are helped by earrings with this stone. They improve the functioning of the thinking structure of the brain. A bracelet containing a mineral works well on the gastrointestinal tract. It treats gastric pathologies and improves digestion.
Important information
You should not wear carnelian in the form of beads and pendants if you have mental problems. Such decorations cause irritability, hysteria and outbursts of aggression.
For headaches, you should apply the mineral to your temples for a short time.
Mining locations
Chalcedony and agate are found on Earth all over the world, which cannot be said about carnelian. The deposits of this stone are exceptional. The most exquisite examples come from the Indian state of Gujarat. Yellow carnelian flowers are famous for the northwestern US state of Montana. A deposit of precious stones was also found on the site of the Crimean Karadag massif.
Compatibility with Zodiac signs
Carnelian belongs to the group of gems that can be worn without fear by representatives of any zodiac sign. Naturally, its properties for each sign are slightly different, taking into account the gender of the person and the type of jewelry in which the stone is located:
- Aries. This nugget is better suited for men than for women. It is recommended to wear items with scarlet or brown stones. They will inspire inspiration, give vigor, help in creativity and gaining self-confidence.
- Calf. A red stone worn around the neck is suitable. It will help you get rid of anger and fear, find strong love, and increase the flow of energy.
- Twins. It is recommended to wear a ring decorated with carnelian. Such an amulet will enhance performance and awaken eloquence.
- Cancer. Light stones are suitable for representatives of this sign. Dark nuggets cause unmotivated aggression in owners. By wearing a pendant with a mineral around your neck, it will be easier to solve complex life problems. Intuition will strengthen, a person will be able to make the only right decisions in the presence of disagreements.
- A lion. The main positive effect of the mineral is helping to create a happy family. For men, the stone provides health, for women it gives energy and sexual attractiveness.
- Virgo. The nugget works well in a silver setting. Such a talisman will protect against love spells and evil spirits. Women become reasonable with him and find harmony with their surroundings.
- Scales. It is necessary to wear jewelry equipped with bright stones - they will become a love talisman.
- Scorpion. The gem will help you financially, calm you down when you are angry, and reveal your creative potential.
- Sagittarius. A bright red nugget will be an excellent talisman that protects against accidents and everyday troubles.
- Capricorn. The mineral, like a powerful magnet, will attract missing energy into life and contribute to achieving success.
- Aquarius. A happy and strong family life is guaranteed by wearing a talisman with this mineral. It will serve to protect the owner from slander and black envious people.
- Fish. It is recommended to choose jewelry containing a light mineral. Such a nugget will help you cope with your illness faster and will provide support from others.
Magical influence
The gem has long been credited with the properties of a talisman in love affairs . This is not surprising, because in its shape it is very similar to a human heart. It was believed that carnelian preserves the family hearth and does not allow the spouses’ feelings for each other to fade. It helps people who have not yet found a partner in finding true love. Decoration with this mineral will protect the owner from a love spell. Wearing such jewelry will help people who want to protect themselves from the evil eye. It is believed that carnelian is a talisman against evil spirits.
Carnelian stone, whose magical properties have long been known, will help timid and indecisive people gain self-confidence and overcome psychological barriers. It is able to strengthen the owner’s courage in moments of danger and helps to cope with their consequences.
In court, it contributes to the speedy establishment of the truth, which is why . ” Carnelian is credited with the ability to open the gift of foresight and strengthen it. It stimulates the owner’s entrepreneurship and intuition and helps in business.
Areas of use
Most often, carnelian is used in the production of costume jewelry. All kinds of amulets, amulets and talismans, women's and men's jewelry - these are the areas of application for a stone of such unusual colors.
Carnelian products
Typically, the mineral is used in jewelry production or for making crafts. Any products become amazing decorations for a person or interior, bringing good luck to the life of the owner, accelerating the organization of his personal life.
Jewelry containing carnelian is a magnificent accessory that emphasizes the individuality of its owner. When a person believes even a little in the power of magic, then along with the decoration he acquires a talisman that can become a reliable protection in life from unnecessary worries and all kinds of problems.
Description
Described gem:
- hard (seven on the Mohs scale);
- almost opaque (but translucent);
- having a waxy sheen.
This is a jewelry stone. It is not afraid of scratches and exposure to chemical reagents (except hydrochloric acid). They can scratch the glass.
Its peculiarity - its unusual color - is due to the admixtures of hematite, consisting of iron hydroxides. The most popular are the samples of chestnut and scarlet colors.
The origin is mainly volcanic in nature. Large deposits are located in close proximity to extinct volcanoes and ancient bodies of water. These are the territories:
- India;
- Mongolia;
- Brazil;
- Madagascar;
- Arabian Peninsula;
- USA;
- Russia;
- Australia.
Chalcedony stones, one of which is Carnelian, are especially valued by specialists who make various jewelry:
- rings;
- necklaces;
- earrings;
- pendants;
- bracelets;
- pendants and others.
They are used to create carvings and souvenirs.
Physical Features
From a chemical point of view, chalcedony is a silicate, silicon oxide. This solid is listed in countless silicas. Its “ancestor” is Quartz. But carnelian stone, unlike quartz, is by no means a crystalline stone.
The semi-precious stone owes its coloring to hematite compounds, equally calculated, with enormous competence. The hardness of a solid is equal to the hardness of glass, which, in common with a low coefficient, makes it easier to finish chalcedony using a solid
