gems, Egypt, turquoise, lapis lazuli, carnelian

Throughout history many cultures have used stones, metals and gems as key elements in their religious and spiritual systems as well as decorative items. Among these were the ancient Egyptians who made excellent use of gemstones as early as the predynastic period and continued during the GraecoRoman period. Gemstones were used primarily in jewelry, amulets and decorative items, besides their religious significance and healing properties. This study focuses on three of the most common gemstones in Ancient Egypt; lapis lazuli, turquoise, and carnelian. The paper aims at displaying the uses of these three stones, sources, religious contexts and symbolism of their colors in Ancient Egypt, which could help tour guides explain in museums and scenes related. The study starts with a main introduction of gemstones and then it displays these three stones in ancient Egypt in regards to their names in Ancient Egyptian language, and in Greek and Latin, their uses, sources, religious significance and color symbolism.