Lapis Lazuli: Lapis Lazuli has a long history and was a beloved gemstone to the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, Persia, Rome, Greece and Egypt. The name originates from the Latin word “Lapis”, which means stone, and from the Arabic word, “azul”, which means blue.
Ground Lapis was used to make the blue in aquamarine, the pigment that of artists used when painting the sea and sky and can still be seen on many great works of art. The use of Lapis Lazuli as a pigment can be seen in the 6th- and 7th-century AD cave paintings in the temples of Afghanistan, which is where the most well known source of Lapis can be found.
The earliest cultures valued Lapis Lazuli more highly than gold. Numerous pieces of jewelry, seals, scarabs and objects have been crafted from the stone. The Romans were said to believe that Lapis was a powerful aphrodisiac. Ancient Egyptian cultures said it was a symbol of truth and believed that burying a scarab carved of Lapis with the dead would protect them in the afterlife.
In other cultures, Lapis Lazuli was honored as a holy stone. In the Orient, it was considered to have magical powers. Alexander the Great is said to have introduced Lapis to Europe.
Color: Lapis Lazuli is a beautiful royal blue stone; it often has specks of pyrite which look like gold. An even, intense dark blue is considered the highest quality stone. White spotting of calcite will decrease the value of the stone.
Traditional Birthstone: September, December
Zodiac or Magical Birthstone: A great stone for Aquarius, Taurus and Sagittarius
Signification: Lapis Lazuli is high vibrational stone and is used to assist in opening the Chakras. Lapis is said to assist in communication. It can strengthen your natural gift for speaking and facilitate growth in communication. It's said that it also can help in becoming a channel and can amplify your mental abilities.