Lapis Lazuli has one of the longest traditions of being recognized as a gemstone and its history can be traced back for thousands of years. The names Lapis Lazuli and Lazurite, the mineral which forms the bulk of this gemstone, come from the Persian word "lazhuward" and the Latin "lazulum" meaning azure with reference to its blue colour and also heaven. Particularly distinctive, Lapis Lazuli was along with Turquoise, one of the most sought after gemstones of earlier civilizations such as Babylonia, Ur and Ancient Egypt.
It was used extensively by the Ancient Egyptians in religious ceremonies and many carvings were found in ancient Egyptian tombs including that of Tutankhamun which date back as far as 3000 BC. Lapis Lazuli was also used in jewellery, amulets and talismans and the Greeks and Romans used it as a reward for bravery. Roman, Persian and Chinese women powdered it down and used it to paint their eyebrows and it was also mentioned in the Biblical book of Exodus and is believed to have possibly been one of the twelve gemstones in the high priest's breastplate or breastplate of Aaron. During the 17th century, Lapis Lazuli was believed to have magical powers which could cure melancholy, epilepsy and prevent miscarriages.
In Rome, it was considered to be a powerful aphrodisiac, in South America the Chilean mine is known to have been active at least 1500 years BC and the ancient royal Sumerian tombs of Ur, located near the Euphrates river in Iraq, contained more than 6000 beautifully carved statuettes of birds, deer and rodents as well as dishes, beads and cylinder seals all in magnificent Lapis Lazuli which almost definitely came from the mines in Badakhshan, Northern Afghanistan. Some of the finest grade Lapis Lazuli still comes from this area and it is thought that they may be amongst the oldest continually worked mines in the world and may possibly have been the source of the gemstones which were supplied to the Pharaohs. Marco Polo visited and subsequently wrote about these mines around 1271. Lapis Lazuli was also mentioned in the Sumerian epic Gilgamesh around 2650 BC and the ancient Greeks made a reference to a blue Sapphire included with gold and this too is believed to be the Lapis Lazuli.
From the days of ancient Greece and Rome through to the Renaissance, Lapis Lazuli was pulverized and mixed with oil to make a pigment called ultramarine which was used extensively to produce the intense blue colour seen in many of the world's most famous oil paintings. This process continued until 1828 but then the dye began to be made synthetically.
Lapis Lazuli is not a single mineral but a rock consisting of many different minerals which can include amongst others, Lazurite, Feldspar, Mica, Diopside, Calcite, Pyrite and Sodalite. Its value is generally determined by its richness of colour but the flecks of gold pyrite and white calcite can also contribute to providing they are not too numerous or too large.
In crystal healing, it is believed to organize and relax the mind and help with self expression. It is 'a stone of total awareness' helping to expand awareness and intellectual capacity. It can be used in conjunction with dream work as well as to aid writing and creativity. It is also believed to assist in the organization of ones life and in the routine day to day activities in which one is involved. It brings happiness to the wearer and success in relationships and assists in balancing the yin yang energies.
Lapis Lazuli is mined in numerous locations around the world which include Chile, Siberia, Angola, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Pakistan, USA , Siberia, Canada and Italy.
The anniversary gemstone for the 9th year of marriage, Lapis Lazuli is graded 5 to 5.5 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
Further reading:
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli
Our collection of Lapis Lazuli jewellery
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