The art of glyptics, or carving on colored precious stones, is probably one of the oldest known to humanity. Intaglios, gems with an incised design, were made as early as the fourth and third millennia BC in Mesopotamia and Aegean Islands. They display a virtuosity of execution that suggests an old and stable tradition rooted in the earliest centuries. The tools required for carving gems were simple: a wheel with a belt-drive and a set of drills. Abrasives were necessary since the minerals used were too hard for a metal edge. A special difficulty of engraving intaglios, aside from their miniature size, was that the master had to work with a mirror image in mind. Superhuman deities of Olympus, and noble, larger-than-life emperors of Rome were favorite themes of the Classical Revival period. One of the most popular was a man well loved in his own day--the emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161-180 A.D.). The portrait on this handsome intaglio bears a strong likeness to certain coins of this great ruler's reign. Noted for his wisdom, political acumen and courage, Aurelius did much to strengthen the empire; and left behind an enduring legacy in his book 'Meditations'. Here we see him wearing a beard, laurel wreath and toga. From the rich surface of the carnelian, the spirit of a valiant leader and exceptional person shines through.