There are three types of relief. High relief shows all parts of the carving raised high above the surface. Low or bas relief consists of engraving which is still raised but is closer to the surface. A third type of relief, known as intaglio or sunken relief, is inscribed below the surface of the material.
Figurative reliefs were used in ancient Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Greece and Rome. These were mainly high relief or bas relief and were used to decorate temples. The scenes were designed to celebrate the actions of gods or mythical heroes. Sarcophagi were also decorated with reliefs. Many of these reliefs were painted but the colors have faded over time, leaving only the physical carvings, without any clues as to the vibrancy of the original design.
Reliefs were also used to commemorate great events. The Assyrian ruler Sennacherib had a series of reliefs created on his palace walls to illustrate his successful invasion of Judah in 701 BC. The Roman emperors created reliefs on monuments marking their historic victories. The Arch of Titus was built in 81 AD to celebrate the reign of Emperor Titus and the capture of Jerusalem. The Column of Trajan was created in 113 AD to commemorate the rule of Emperor Trajan and his successful campaign in Dacia.
With the rise of Christianity, churches and cathedrals were decorated with the figures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, saints and and sacred subjects. The raised figures on the exterior or interior of the building appear as high or low relief, with the bodies standing out from the surface. Biblical stories or characters were often illustrated.
Coins and medals are a common form of bas relief that have existed through the ages. The slightly raised image shows the head of the current ruler at the time the coin was made. Holy medals bearing the image of the Virgin Mary or a saint bear a raised bas relief image, as do military medals. This form has also been used in jewelry. Cameos show a head in profile carved from a semiprecious stone. A wide range of other subjects, such as a standing figure or a scene, can also be used. Intaglio relief is most often used in engraving a design into a semiprecious stone, which can then be used in any setting, from rings, cuff links, bracelets, pendants or necklaces to earrings.