Carnelian was a semi-precious stone believed to have supernatural qualities. The stone was the oldest to be mined in Egypt and regarded to have protection attributes for both the living and the dead. A carnelian Isis knot would be positioned on top of mummies to guarantee a peaceful afterlife. Carnelian amulets also maintained the stability of the bearer with healing properties. The red fiery colour was associated with rage and jealousy, the stone would be worn in the form of rings to eliminate these qualities including bad tempers and hatred. Meanwhile the colour also symbolised the warm blood of life and would be carved into heart amulets as a sign of eternal life.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.
