Lapis Lazuli is also known as Lapis or Lazulite. Derived from the Arabic word lazaward from which the word "azure" comes. A rich azure blue in colour, lapis lazuli is a combination of minerals, primarily lazurite and alcite, often with spangles of iron pyrites.
The best quality lapis lazuli comes from Afghanistan, where it has been mined dsince antiquity. In 1271 Marco Polo discovered old lapis mines in Afghanistan and from there it was exported to Germany, China, Russia and India.
The ancient Egyptians, who often used it for their carved seals, probably also obtained their supplies from Afghanistan. It is a royal stone and was revered both in ancient Egypt and in Jewish history, as it was probably the 'sapphire' on the high priest's breastplate. It was also used in Egypt to temper the ill effects of acts of incest, as pharaohs, the rulers of ancient Egypt, customearily married their eldest sister.
For centuries powdered lapis was used as a pigment in oil paintings. It was also a favorite jewelry stone, said to promote friendship and goowill and to guard against oppression and evil.
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