Lapis lazuli was among the first gemstones to be worn as jewelry and worked on, and the Chinese have long held it in high regard. Its name is derived from the Roman word for stone and the Persian word for blue, and is the root of our word "azure." A denotation edit of luck, success and prosperity, lapis was a symbol of power, and thus was reserved only for the highest-ranking members of society. This enchanting stone was likened to the "road to heaven" for its resemblance to a star-filled sky, and was thus added to the grave goods of powerful persons. It was also ground to a powder and used in cosmetics.