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Lapis Lazuli is a opaque - translucent semiprecious gemstone
composed of lazurite and calcite
with all kinds of shades in the blue spectrum. Lapis Lazuli
was very sought-after in the ancient world - we know- which
was at that time mainly the area of present day middle east
and Egypt.
One
of the very first use of lapis lazuli was discovered in a 4500 year
old cemetery in the ancient city of Ur on the
Euphrates river in present day southern Iraq. Plenty
of Sumerian artifacts were discovered at this
ancient burial site.
Among the Mesopotamian
treasures discovered in the late 1920 -ties by British
archaeologist C. Leonard Woolley were jewelry made from
lapis lazuli, carnelian, gold and alabaster bowls. The
discovery and opening of the royal tomb in Ur gave a
interesting insight into the live and -death- of the the
ancient Sumerian culture, actually, according to the Bible
Ur was the home town of Abraham.
Some other objects found was a
lyre with a gold and lapis lazuli bull's head, Lady Puabi’s
lapis lazuli and carnelian jewelry, an electrum drinking
tumbler, and a gold ostrich egg—as well as Lady Puabi’s
headdress and other treasures.
Lapis Lazuli Jewelry is
often present as antique jewelry and handmade jewelry.
Common are lapis lazuli jewelry necklaces and lapis
lazuli jewelry pendants.
Lapis lazuli lazuli earrings and lapis lazuli rings are real
vintage jewelry, all made from beautiful lazuli
stones.
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The royal cemetery tomb of Lady
Puabi,
like the tomb of King
Tutankhamen, was a very special find since it was still
intact, no looting happened. The tomb had a
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chamber
set at the bottom of a pit. the lady was buried lying in a
coffin on a wooden stand. A cylinder seal with her name on
it was found on her body. The seal was carved in cuneiform
and written in Sumerian language, probably the world's first
written language.
Lady Puabi had a headdress of
gold leaves, gold ribbons, strands of lapis lazuli and
carnelian beads, a tall comb of gold, chokers, necklaces,
and a pair of large, crescent-shaped earrings. Her upper
body was covered in strings of beads made of precious metals
and semi-precious stones stretching from her shoulders to
her belt, while rings decorated all her fingers. An ornate
diadem made of thousands of small lapis lazuli beads with
gold pendants of animals and plants was on a table near her
head. Many more artifacts were discovered by Leonard Woolley
in the cemetery.
