Lapis Lazuli is a precious blue-colored gemstone or the blue sapphire. Its unique elegance makes it an exquisite choice for jewelry and sculpture. Common lapis has streaks of gold pyrites and white calcite veins, which set it apart from other gemstones. However, rare ones with no white calcite veins and with only small streaks of golden pyrite have high market value. Architects use it as ornament for walls and columns of castles and cathedrals.
Its name comes from two Latin words “lapis” (stone) and “azula” (blue), which means Blue Stone. Etymologists say however that “lazuli” comes from the Medieval Latin “lazulum,” which takes derivation from the Persian word “Lāzhvard”, the name of the place where people mine the gemstone. Thus, it should mean “Stone of Lāzhvard.”
The use of lapis dates thousands of years back as archaeologists have found evidence that people around Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome have used this stone as jewelry and ornament for tombs and figurines. Archaeologists have found lapis jewelry at excavations in Naqada, Egypt, which dates back to 3300BC. Among the ancient lapis lazuli jewelries now on display is a Mesopotamian pendant that dates back to 2900BC and a dove carving studded with gold pegs from Susa, Iran that dates back to 1200BC.
Middle Eastern people believe it has magical powers. In ancient Egypt, lapis lazuli was a favorite stone for amulets, signet rings and scarabs. Up to now, many consider it as a stone of friendship and truth. Assyrians and Babylonians use it for seals.
Powdered lapis is an expensive ingredient for blue pigment in painting. Many great painters use lapis in their masterpieces. Cleopatra has found the value of powdered lapis for coloring as she uses it for eye shadow.
Afghanistan has been the biggest source of lapis since 2000 B.C.
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