Sapphire

This name derives from the Ancient Greek “sáppheiros (σάπφειρος),” from the Hebrew “sappı̂yr,” meaning “blue stone, sapphire, lapis lazuli.” The color of beautiful blue sapphires may be described as a vivid medium-dark violet to purplish-blue where the primary blue hue is at least 85% and the secondary tone no more than 15%, without the least admixture of a green secondary hue or a gray mask. 1) According to the Apostles, Ananias and his wife Sapphira were members of the Early Christian church in Jerusalem. The account records their sudden deaths after being accused of lying to the apostles about money. 2) Sappho was a Greek lyric poet, born on the island of Lesbos. The Alexandrians included her in the list of nine lyric poets.