Sardine, Sardius

SARDINE, SARDIUS [smith]

(red) (Heb. odem) the stone which occupied the first place in the first row of the high priest?s breastplate. (Exodus 28:27) The sard, which is probably the stone denoted by odem , is a superior variety of agate, sometimes called camelian, and has long been a favorite stone for the engraver?s art. Sardis differ in color: there is a bright-red variety, and perhaps the Hebrew odem from a root means "to be red," points to this kind.