Lapis Lazuli Cabochon Stone Gemstone for Jewelry Making Pendant Earring Ring Necklace Bracelet Manufacturer supplier Exporter Wholesaler from Jaipur, Rajasthan, India Lapis Lazuli History Lapis lazuli is one of the oldest opaque gemstones in history--more than 6, 500 years! This deep blue stone includes tiny flecks of mica, like a night sky full of stars. It's most well-known source is deep in the mountains of modern Afghanistan. The Latin term lapis, which means "stone, " and the Persian word lazhuward, which means "blue, " are the two halves of this stone's two-part name. It is a rock that contains a variety of minerals, including pyrite, diopside, calcite, and lazurite. It is neither an element nor a mineral. According to biblical historians, references to "sapphire" in the Old Testament actually refer to lapis lazuli because the sapphire gemstone was not well-known in the Middle East prior to the Roman Empire. This deep blue stone has been employed in the best works of art throughout history and was cherished by ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Minoans, Chinese, Greeks, and even the Romans. King Tutankhamen's death mask, which features turquoise and carnelian inlaid in brilliant gold, is one of the most well-known applications for the stone. He was succeeded by Cleopatra, who was rumoured to have used pulverised lapis lazuli as eyeshadow. In 1271, Marco Polo described the lapis lazuli mines in his writings. When painting the gowns of Mary of Nazareth on church walls and ceilings, such as in the Sistine Chapel, artists in the middle ages crushed up lapis lazuli to create the deep blue paint known as ultramarine. While this was going on, pre-Columbian societies in South America, including the Diguita and Inca, were carving, trading, and fighting over lapis lazuli that was coming from mines in what are now Argentina and Chile. Lapis Lazuli Metaphysical Properties . While the ancient Egyptians interpreted the stone as a representation of the night sky, the Sumerians thought that the stone contained the essence of their gods. Lapis lazuli has been linked to power and bravery, monarchy and knowledge, intelligence and truth since the dawn of time. Lapis lazuli has been worn for centuries in the hope that it will fend against evil. It was powdered and placed over the eyes in ancient Egypt to enhance vision. Some people now believe it to be helpful for regulating the brow chakra (which influences vision and hearing). Headaches, anxiety, and skin issues are allegedly brought on by brow (or blue) chakra imbalances.