Lapis+Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli in Ancient Egypt


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A favorite stone of the ancient Egyptians was lapis lazuli, a deep blue stone flecked with golden impurities. Imported from the mountains of northeastern Afghanistan, it was considered superior to all other materials except gold or silver. Figuring prominently in amulets and jewelry, beads made from lapis lazuli have been found dating back to the Predynastic Period. Lapis lazuli was also used to make scarabs, kohl tubes, inlays, and small vessels.

Sacred to the sky goddess Nut, the stone was likened to a dark, star-filled sky. The gods were said to have hair made of lapis lazuli. The rising sun was sometimes called the "child of lapis lazuli." An incantation from the Book of the Dead allows the deceased person to become "a female cat of lapis lazuli," a form of the cat-goddess Bast, able to strike down serpents and overpower any dangers on their journey through the Duat.