Lapis Lazuli

A semiprecious stone of an intense blue color, very popular in the ancient Near East for decorative inlays, beads, seals, etc. It is a metamorphosed form of limestone, rich in the blue mineral lazurite, which is dark blue in color and often flecked with impurities of calcite, iron pyrites, or gold. Its main source was Badakhshan, northern Afghanistan, and in Iran, from which it was traded as far as Egypt. The Egyptians considered that its appearance imitated that of the heavens, therefore they considered it to be superior to all materials other than gold and silver. They used it extensively in jewelry until the Late Period (747-332 BC), when it was particularly popular for amulets. One of the richest collection of lapis lazuli objects was found in the burials at Tepe Gawra. It has also been found at Ovalle, Chile.

A semi-precious stone of a rich deep blue colour, sometimes flecked with gold. It was a rare commodity, much prized in the ancient Near East, with its main — and possibly only — source situated deep in the mountains of Badakhshan, north Afghanistan. It was widely traded in Mesopotamia, at least from the end of the Ubaid period (o4000 be/ 4800 bc), where it was made into beads, decorative inlays, seals and various forms of jewellery. The sites of Tepe Hissar and Shahr-i Sokhta in eastern Iran seem to have served as entrepots in the working and distribution of lapis lazuli, which was traded in quantities as far as Egypt. One of the richest collection of lapis lazuli objects was found in the burials at Tepe Gawra.