Carnelian, or Cornelian, aka sard and sardius, is a gemstone ranging from red to orange to reddish brown. Popular from distant antiquity, carnelian is a member of the far-flung chalcedony family, and may range from a light, yellowy orange to a deep brown-orange.

HISTORY & TRADITIONAL BELIEFS: Carnelian was traditionally considered to be a stone of high energy, inspiring to artistic and dramatic endeavors, and good for dispelling apathy. It was even put in with corpses, in the belief that the dead journeyed to an afterlife and the stone would protect them. 

Like other chalcedony, carnelian does not adhere to wax, so was used as official seals.