The combination of blue and gold would not have been unfamiliar to the artist or the patron of the Blue Koran. Lapis lazuli, a deep-blue semi-precious stone often containing “gold” specks, was mined in Afghanistan and used for Ancient Greek jewelry; the interior of the Dome of the Rock is decorated with gold mosaic inscriptions against dark blue backgrounds. Alain George argued that the contrast of the gold text and the dark blue background had “a resonance of light over darkness.”[19] The Blue Koran, like many other Koranic scripts, was not only read but also probably seen by worshippers in both candlelight and natural light.