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The word lapis lazuli comes from the
Arabic/Latin meaning "blue stone." It was first
mined
in Afghanistan 6,000 years ago, and then sold to Egypt,
Iraq, and Europe, where it was used as ornamental stone and
in jewellery. Lapis lazuli is one of the oldest
known "spiritual" stones. In ancient Egypt, it was mainly
used by the priest and by the royal family. People used to
think lapis lazuli made you very wise. Today, lapis lazuli
is used for necklaces and rings, and in carvings and
ornaments. During the Middle Ages, ground up
lapis lazuli was used to make a paint of a special blue
colour. There are castles which still have columns and
wallpanels covered in this lustrous
stone.
