Stock Photo - Gudea of Lagash, paragonite. Neo Sumerian Gudea de Lagash, from the city of Lagash, is considered one of the greatest princes of antiquity. Reigning during the 2nd century BC, he built numerous temples and statues, ordered numerous legal codes, and financed trading expeditions, which brought goods from the exotic corners of the Empire to the royal palace. He organized an expedition to obtain a precious rock, called paragonite, which comes from the extreme southeast of ancient Mesopotamia. This was one of his most prized jewels and served as a reminder of his great deeds. Paragonite is also known as a sacred gem and was used in the decoration of several of their temples. The Paragonite symbolizes faith, loyalty, and power, which are qualities that sum up Gudea's reign and his transformative actions as ruler of Lagash.