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Alabaster

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Last updated date: 25th Apr 2024
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What is Alabaster?

Derived from the source location Alabaston in Egypt, alabaster is a fine grained, variety of Gypsum (calcium sulfate). This massive form of Gypsum is a translucent, beautiful stone that has been prized for thousands of years. It is somewhat similar to marble, and owing to the two stones is often confused. Alabaster is quarried for centuries in Egypt and Italy, though most supposedly alabaster artifacts from ancient Egypt and Rome are actually marble stones.


Similar Stones Like Alabaster

Alabaster is often confused with different stones. So, here you will learn how to distinguish alabaster stone with other similar appearing stones. Supplementing the confusion, the word “onyx” has been applied differently to marble, alabaster, and true onyx, which is a type of quartz. The smooth, translucent appearance of alabaster reflects superbly polished marble or onyx. The variety of color and veining observed in different types of alabaster is also evocative of white or colored marble.


Marble, particularly white marble, is primarily a calcite (calcium carbonate). Both of them are metamorphic rocks, occurring geologically under high temperature and pressure. That being said, Alabaster is also often confused with steatite (soapstone), another soft, smooth, easily polished stone. Steatite consists of the mineral talc, which is even quite softer than alabaster. Most alabaster objects are found indoors, subjected to their susceptibility to moisture. These pieces are usually curatively carved, smoothly polished, and are often decorated or colored with gilding.


Chemical Formula of Alabaster

The chemical formula of Alabaster is :CaSO4 · 2H2O


Alabaster Scripture

Alabaster (gypsum— calcium sulfate), also a sedimentary rock, is a chemical accumulation. Different varieties of limestone and sandstone, which differ largely in quality and suitability for carving, are used for making the sculpture. Due to their process of occurrence, the “alabaster” of the ancients, is now defined as alabaster of gypsum, a calcium sulfate rock. These marbles are generally yellow or brown in color owing to the presence of iron oxide. Classic examples of alabaster scripture include the giallo antico (“antique yellow marble”) in Italian marble.


Alabaster Bible

In the primitive times of the biblical era, when a young woman reached the age of marriage, her family would buy an Alabaster Box for her and fill it with ointment which was called the alabaster ointment. The value of the ointment and the size of the box were to show the amount of wealth her family took possession of. When a man would ask her to marry him, she would reply by breaking this precious box at his feet; additionally to the expensive ointment on his feet was meant to submit him respect.


What Does Alabaster Mean in the Bible?

While Jesus was in Bethany, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar filled with very expensive perfume that she poured on his head as he was resting at the table. When the disciples discerned this visually, they were upset. "Why this misspend?" they asked. The alabaster co bible reflects around this nuance.


Significance of Alabaster Box and the Ointment Inside it

It is believed that the intriguing Alabaster box and the magical ointment inside it healed Jesus. The nuance behind the Alabaster box can possibly be seen in different lights and the fact that it is continually making mentions makes it curious as to why it was so significant and of such great importance to the people and the use on Jesus’s body.


The connotation is that the box was made of Alabaster stone, and since then it also became rather dangerous and difficult when you imagine a woman breaking the Alabaster box. The liquid inside the box has been described as an alabaster ointment containing a particular element called Myrrh that flows from a tree in Arabia and Africa.


Jesus was crucified; the ointment was used by those who would die by death of Martyrdom (the execution of Christ).


Mary— Lady in Waiting for marriage broke her Alabaster box to help Jesus, becoming God’s best while waiting for Mr. Right.” However, when Mary broke her Alabaster box to Jesus, it’s not that she was expecting to marry him, but it was a sign of honor.

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Psalms Alabaster

Psalms alabaster is a reading absolutely stunning that will help to engage with God in a new way. It’s an insight into the intersection of beauty, humanity, and faith. Beauty matters in our comprehension of who God is. Everyone makes certain images and we are shaped by what we see and believe. Psalms alabaster is about bringing this visual reality to a faith-based aspect in context to divine authority and inspiration of the alabaster ministries Bible. The alabaster ministries and alabaster international ministry also conduct activities on educating, guiding on religious activities, conducting charity and personal development.

FAQs on Alabaster

Q1. What is Gypsum?

Answer: Gypsum is an evaporite mineral often spotted in layered sedimentary deposits in linkage with anhydrite, calcite, dolomite, halite, and sulfur. Gypsum having the chemical formula (CaSO4.2H2O) is quite similar to Anhydrite (CaSO4). The chemical difference between the two is that gypsum comprises two waters and anhydrite is without water. Gypsum is the most commonly found sulfate mineral.

Q2. What is the Use of Gypsum?

Answer: Gypsum is used in variety of applications such as:

  • Manufacturing of wallboard and construction plaster

  • Producing cement, plaster of Paris (POP)

  •  Soil conditioning, a toughening retarder in port land cement.

  • Varieties of gypsum called “alabaster” and "satin spar" are used for many different ornamental purposes; but, their low hardness confines their durability.

Q3. What is a Geologist?

Answer: It is still a mystery as to whether the term ‘alabaster’ came from a place named in ancient Egypt, or from the ointment jar called ‘alabastri’ that was made there. Nowadays geologists use the word alabaster for the compact fine-grained variant of gypsum. Important sources of gypsum ‘alabaster’ are from the regions of Castellina Marittima and Volterra in Tuscany, Italy, and Midlands of England. In medieval times, the carving of English alabaster reached statues and monuments made from the stone and can be seen in churches across Europe.