Lapis lazuli was a semi-precious stone, coveted by the Egyptians and used to make amulets and detailed artwork. It was sourced mainly from Afghanistan, making it an expensive material and adding worth and value to the amulets in turn. It proved a useful material throughout ancient Egypt’s long dynastic history, including into the Amarna Period. The Amarna Period relates specifically to the latter half of the 18th Dynasty, and to the reign of Tutankhamun’s father, Akhenaten, who altered the polytheistic religion of ancient Egypt. The Period saw the first development of monotheistic religion, in which the sun-god Aten was worshipped above the other Egyptian gods.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.