Carnelian

Carnelian
The stone from beyond

Its name comes from the Latin "carnis" meaning flesh. In ancient Egypt it was used by the goddess Isis to accompany the dead in their passage to the afterlife. Excavations in Mesopotamia uncovered these stones used at that time as protective ornaments for the pharaohs. Egyptian mummies have been found adorned with carnelian on robes, diadems, rings and necklaces.

Its colour varies from vermilion to orange. Iron impurities give this type of chalcedony its orange colouration and it varies from golden yellow to almost red tones. It has a milky appearance that resembles an intense cloud of fire inside.

Its main deposits are in Brazil, the USA and India.

It is one of the oldest gemstones known to mankind and represents the strength of Horus, god of the sun. In ancient times it was used to protect the dead and connect them with their loved ones they left behind. For that reason, this stone can help to accept the natural cycle of life and the loss of a loved one.