Carnelian intaglio with a Ptolemaic queen, Hellenistic artwork, Cabinet des Médailles
Polish signet ring in light-orange Carnelian intaglio showing Korwin coat of arms
The bow drill was used to drill holes into carnelian in Mehrgarh between 4th-5th millennium BC.[3] Carnelian was recovered from Bronze Age Minoan layers at Knossos on Crete in a form that demonstrated its use in decorative arts;[4] this use dates to approximately 1800 BC. Carnelian was used widely during Roman times to make engraved gems for signet or seal ringsfor imprinting a seal with wax on correspondence or other important documents. Hot wax does not stick to carnelian.[5] Sard was used for Assyrian cylinder seals, Egyptian and Phoenicianscarabs, and early Greek and Etruscan gems.[6] The Hebrew odem (translated sardius), the first stone in the High Priest's breastplate, was a red stone, probably sard but perhaps red jasper.[6]
