| Ancient Egypt has brought us a huge amount of | | | | Ironically, lapis lazuli has never been found in Egypt. It |
| innovations. The science of Earth is one of them. | | | | was brought through the barter exchange with Asian |
| Although, geology is a very sophisticated discipline, | | | | tribes. It was sometimes brought from as far as |
| extraction of ore deposits was mastered around Nile | | | | Afghanistan or Caucasus. It still remains a mystery - |
| delta more than 5,000 years ago. | | | | how a stone not native to Ta-Kemet - has gained |
| Around year 3000 BCE Egypt was already | | | | such an importance in religious traditions and everyday |
| established as a powerful country and although the | | | | life. Lapis lazuli was used in Egyptian jewelry and |
| marvellous era of pharaohs was still ahead, the | | | | amulets more than any other gem. It was believed to |
| country had a sound political and economical structure. | | | | have protective attributes; it was associated with the |
| The locals called their country Ta-Kemet, meaning the | | | | goddess of the Night - because of the gold-like flecks |
| Black Land. With the enemies constantly looking to | | | | of pyrite. |
| capture the fertile valley, Egyptians had to build up | | | | One of the most important material for an ancient |
| military might. Something that wouldn't be at all possible | | | | Egyptian was copper. Copper along with the gold was |
| without sufficient material basis. | | | | hammered into shape using primitive stone tools. Still, |
| Almost all raw materials needed for production and | | | | thanks to great skill, ancient craftsmen could tame the |
| military development could be found either locally or in | | | | difficult material producing some marvellous items of |
| the nearby desert. Local copper deposits were | | | | art. Numerous tools and weapons were made from |
| insignificant therefore it was mined in the Sinai | | | | copper. Agricultural and constructional development |
| peninsula. There was gold in the desert between the | | | | would be impossible without advanced metal tools. It |
| Nile and the Red Sea and in Ethiopia. Gold was central | | | | was only during the New Kingdom - around 1500 BCE |
| to the society. It was believed to have magical | | | | - than they started using bronze. It was quite late - |
| properties still it had a certain practical usability too, | | | | some other ancient people discovered bronze as early |
| mostly reflected in Egyptian jewelry traditions. | | | | as 3000 BCE. |
| Mountains enclosing Nile valley, were rich in various | | | | The best thing about ancient Egypt heritage is that all |
| types of stone: granite, diorite, basalt, alabaster, | | | | their know-how and developments have been |
| limestone and sandstone. Semi-precious stones and | | | | preserved through the detailed wall pictures and |
| gems were mined in the desert to the east of Nile, | | | | papyrus scrolls. Many of so-called today's "inventions" |
| others like turquoise and malachite were sourced on | | | | are actually nothing more than borrowed knowledge |
| the Sinai Peninsula. At that time lapis lazuli emerged as | | | | from the ancient craftsmen. |
| one of the most important if not sacred stones. | | | | |