Alabaster is a soft, smooth stone that's usually white or cream-colored and slightly translucent, meaning light can pass through it a bit, like how sunlight glows through a frosted window. For thousands of years, sculptors have carved alabaster into beautiful statues, vases, and decorative objects because it's easier to work with than marble but still looks elegant and polished.

Ancient Egyptians made alabaster jars to hold precious oils and perfumes. Medieval churches used thin sheets of alabaster for windows, creating a soft, glowing light inside. Museums today display alabaster sculptures from cultures around the world, their smooth surfaces still gleaming after centuries.

People also use alabaster to describe something with that same pale, smooth appearance. A poet might write about someone's alabaster skin, meaning it looks pale and smooth like the stone. The word suggests purity and delicacy, though actual alabaster is tougher than it looks. While it scratches more easily than harder stones like granite, a well-made alabaster sculpture can last for thousands of years if treated with care.