Category Gemstone History & Civilisations

For more than six millennia, lapis lazuli travelled extraordinary distances from the mountains of Afghanistan to ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and later Europe. Discover its geology, ancient trade, cultural prestige and transformation into precious ultramarine pigment.

The history of sapphire is more complicated than its name suggests. Ancient sappheiros often described lapis lazuli, while surviving Roman and medieval jewellery confirms the later use of true corundum sapphire. Follow the evidence through ancient texts, trade, medieval lapidaries, religious symbolism and surviving museum objects.