Moses then decreed them mounted into a sacred “Breastplate of Judgment” for his brother, the high priest Aaron (Exodus 28:15-30): “And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work… And the fourth row a Beryl, and Sardonyx…”
 

In the New Testament (Revelations 21:19), Sardonyx is one of the twelve gemstones set in the foundations of the city walls of Jerusalem: “And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones… The fifth, Sardonyx…’’. As compiled by Andreas, Bishop of Caesurae, one of the earliest writers to tie the Apostles with the symbolism of the twelve gems of Jerusalem, Sardonyx was for the Apostle James. Andreas also gives a brief description of the gemstones, which is recounted in George F. Kunz's book “The Curious Lore of Precious Stones” (1913).
 

The ancient Egyptians carved Sardonyx into scarab beetles, wearing them as a talisman. In the 2nd Century, Egyptian geographer Ptolemy drew a map of India, which included “Sardonyx Gemstones” in the Sardonyx Mountains.
 

Roman soldiers went into battle believing they gained courage by wearing Sardonyx engraved with Mars, the god of war. Roman General Publius Cornelius Scipio was known for wearing lots of Sardonyx. The women of ancient Rome regularly wore intaglios and cameos, and Sardonyx was widely used for this purpose.
 

Queen Elizabeth I gave the Earl of Esex a ring of Sardonyx set in gold as a keepsake. Wearing a Sardonyx in Renaissance Europe was believed to give eloquence on speakers.
 

Sardonyx was once used as a protection against plague and the bites and stings of poisonous reptiles and insects. Today, crystal healers use Sardonyx as a stimulant for self-control and protection.
 

Folklore says Sardonyx helps promote healthy relationships, and helps to balance heaven and earth. As a result, some married couples credit Sardonyx with the ability to ensure a happy marriage.
 

Sardonyx belongs to the Chalcedony family and is a form of microcrystalline quartz consisting of different colored bands on its basic color. Referred as “striped veins”, these appear in varied patterns and in different colors.
 

Sardonyx is traditionally orange red in color with bands that are white and reddish brown. However, it is also available in other colors such as yellow, brown, white, purple, gray, black, pink and green with bands that can occur in gray, black and brown.
 

In Sardonyx, no two gemstones have the same banding pattern, making each one unique. The patterns and colors of the veins are irregular and occur naturally but sometimes the band can occur in a circular pattern similar to the pattern of cut tree trunk. While some Sardonyx can display straight lines in a horizontal direction, they are usually irregular in their thickness.
 

Sardonyx can be faceted into various cuts including ovals, pears, rounds and cabochons, and has been set in Jewelry since antiquity. Sardonyx is also carved as cameos (i.e. a gem carved in relief) and intaglios (i.e. a gem carved in negative relief). Other Sardonyx items include beads and small statues.
 

Sardonyx has been mined in India for thousands of years and remains a major source of this ancient gemstone. Other locations include Russia, Pakistan, U.S.A., Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Czechoslovakia and Africa.