engraving. The Chaldasans, at a later period, made use of
seals, cut in hard stones, in the form of cones, pyramids, and
spheroids, which were more easily handled than cylinders.
The cone was engraved in intaglio, on the base, with subjects
less varied than those upon cylinders ; but, like them, they had
no types in nature, and were such as were represented in the
Chaldaean cosmogony. About four hundred of these cones are
in the British Museum, and as many more in Paris, nearly all
of them cut in carnelian or chalcedony of a fine blue tint.
There is no question but that the Egyptians early acquired
the art of engraving, as the Israelites must have obtained their
knowledge of it from them during their long residence in
Egypt. There are traditions among the rabbies that Chael, one
of the Hebrews, while journeying in the Wilderness, engraved
precious stones with astronomical signs, and described their
history and magical powers, and that Moses engraved the
stones of the breastplate with the blood of the worm called
" Samir," * which some writers have interpreted to mean the
adamas, while others maintain that the Hebrew word for diamond is derived from a different root, signifying " to smite."
The earliest historical engraved gems are generally believed to
have been those in the first breastplate of the Jewish highpriest, though Egyptian priests were accustomed to wear
engraved tablets when officiating at their religious rites,
long before the Jewish ritual was introduced among the
Hebrews.
It is supposed the ante-Homeric Greeks were unacquainted
with the art of gem-engraving, judging from the silence of
Homer, who makes no mention of engraved gems ; though one
was placed on the finger of Ulysses, by the painter Polygnotus,
* The legend about the blood of the worm Samir, says a modern writer, originated, undoubtedly, from the word " Smir," a material used by ancient engravers.
