Lapis-Lazuli and Its Uses during the Bronze Age (The ancient Arab Orient as a model)

Abstract

Ancient man had enough wealth and richness to seek out precious materials for luxury purposes. It is clear that the Lapis-lazuli stone is among the materials alien to ancient Syria, the Nile Valley and Mesopotamia. Here lies the importance of the Lapis-lazuli stone within the long path of that person's Ancient Near East, whose trade was limited to importing basic materials.

Lapis-lazuli, with its color gradations ranging from bluish-violet to light blue, had a special symbolism associated with the gods. Kings sought, since ancient times, to associate their names with the names of the gods, thus, lapis-lazuli had an important place in diplomatic gifts between kings. Based on the study of the pieces preserved in the Museum of Antiquities of the Ancient East at the National Museum in Damascus, the presentation will focus on defining the Lapis-lazuli stone, its history and importance during the long march of ancient man, and the field of its uses, with illumination on it through written texts and some models preserved in the National Museum in Damascus.