15 interesting facts about lapis lazuli
- Lapis lazuli or lapis for short is mostly lazurite but commonly contains pyrite and calcite.
- The name of lapis lazuli has international roots. The word lapis is the Latin «lapis» meaning stone, and lazuli comes from an old Arabic word, «allazjward», meaning heaven, sky or simply blue.
- The rich blue color is due to the sulfur that is inherent in the structure of lazurite.
- Lapis lazuli shares with turquoise the distinction of being among the most prized of all gemstones of earlier civilizations. In a grave from the Indus valley, the lapis ornaments found were dated as 9000 years old.
- In a piece of jewelry the small crystals of pyrite found in lapis blend with the setting, looking like gold in a gold setting and silver in a silver setting, giving the stone a personality all its own.
- In Babylonia, Ur and ancient Egypt, lapis was very highly valued. It was believed to cure melancholy and one particular kind of recurrent fever. In Rome it was considered a powerful aphrodisiac.
- Lapis lazuli is the alternative to turquoise and ruby as birthstones for December.
- The best source of lapis is in the remote mountains in Afghanistan. It is also found in Chile and in lesser quantities elsewhere.
- In South America, the Chilean deposit of lapis lazuli was used by ancient civilizations at least 1500 years B.C.
- Lapis lazuli is one of the oldest spiritual stones known, it was used mainly by priests and royalty in ancient Egypt. Many believe that the Biblical sapphire was actually lapis lazuli.
- Lapis powder was extensively used by Roman, Persian and Chinese women to paint their eyebrows.
- Through the ages, lapis lazuli has been associated with power, wisdom, love, and most frequently as a stimulator for psychic abilities.
- Lapis lazuli was pulverized to make a durable pigment called ultramarine, which was used extensively to produce the intense blue of many of the world’s most famous oil paintings.
- It is believed to stimulate inner vision, give enhanced wisdom, insight and good judgment.
- This ultramarine pigment was in use until the nineteenth century when another method to produce this color was found.
