Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is technically a rock, as it is composed of different minerals - blue Lazulite, which is very rare, or more commonly Hauyne, as is most often the case, white Calcite and golden Pyrite. The less white Calcite and golden Pyrite in the stone, the more desirable it is, and it must contain at least 25% blue material in order to be called Lapis Lazuli. The name is derived from the Latin for stone - lapis and the Persian for heaven - l'azulus. Lapis Lazuli has been prized as a gemstone for over 6,000 years amongst many different civilisations. The ancient Egyptians used it to create amulets of the Goddess of Truth, Maat, and the famous Queen Cleopatra was believed to have used it crushed as eyeshadow. The Sumerian Goddess of Love, Inanna was portrayed as carrying a Lapis rod and wearing Lapis jewellery as she entered the underworld. Powdered Lapis Lazuli was also used to create the rich, deep pigment 'ultramarine', which was especially popular during the Middle Ages.