Lapis lazuli’s blue gave birth to the word azure

Lapis lazuli inspired the word azure.

Lapis lazuli is a deep-blue metamorphic rock and semi-precious stone.

Lapis lazuli was mined in Afghanistan as early as 7570 BC.

Lapis lazuli beads from 7570 BC found at Bhirrana, India.

Lapis beads appear in Neolithic Eurasian and Mauritanian burials.

Tutankhamun’s funerary mask features lapis lazuli in its decoration.

Lapis lazuli’s blue comes from a sulfur radical in crystal.

Lazurite makes 30 to 40 percent of lapis lazuli.

Europe imported lapis lazuli to make ultramarine blue pigment for paintings.

Famous painters like Vermeer used ultramarine especially for Virgin Mary’s robes.

Mesopotamia got lapis lazuli around 4900 BCE for magic stones.

Persian lāžaward links to blue words like Spanish azul.

Lapis lazuli mined in Afghanistan, Russia, Chile, Pakistan, and more.

Medieval scribes’ dental tartar sometimes contains ultramarine from lapis lazuli.

Lapis lazuli gave us the word azure for the color blue.