Stone cameos of great artistry were made in Greece dating back as far as the 3rd century BC. The Farnese Tazza (a cup) is the oldest major Hellenistic piece surviving. They were very popular in Ancient Rome, especially in the family circle of Augustus. The most famous stone "state cameos" from this period are the Gemma Augustea, the Gemma Claudia made for the Emperor Claudius, and the largest flat engraved gem known from antiquity, the Great Cameo of France. Roman Cameos became less common around in the years leading up to 300AD although production continued at a much reduced rate right through the Middle Ages.[3]
It was probably intended as a decorative ritual libation bowl and was esteemed as a royal treasure edifying the wealth of Egypt as due to the Nile River