These stones are great as beads cabochons inlays and tablets because of their prominent blue color.
Lapis lazuli jewelry meaning.
The term lapis lazuli comes from lapis which means stone in latin and lazhwawrd which is blue in persian.
Lapis lazuli ˈ l æ p ɪ s ˈ l æ zj ʊ l i l aɪ or lapis for short is a deep blue metamorphic rock used as a semi precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color.
It s more commonly known as just lapis.
Lapis lazuli artifacts.
As early as the 7th millennium bce lapis lazuli was mined in the sar i sang mines in shortugai and in other mines in badakhshan province in northeast afghanistan.
After the renaissance lapis lazuli became a paint pigment called ultramarine the ancient egyptians used also lapis lazuli for jewelry rings pharoah s regalia and more.
The name comes from the latin word lapis meaning stone and the persian lazhward meaning blue.
Lapis lazuli crystal was also used to adorn burial sites for royalty and king tut s sarcophagus was said to have been decorated with lapis lazuli stones.
Besides resembling the blue eyeshadow he wore the stone was believed to help guide souls into the afterlife.