A History of the Amethyst
The name Amethyst originates from a Greek word meaning "without intoxication". According to the Greek Philosopher Aristotle it was also the name of a beautiful nymph who invoked the aid of the Goddess Diana to protect her from the attentions of the god Bacchus, which the goddess did by converting her into a precious gem, upon which Bacchus, in remembrance of his love, gave the stone its color and the quality of preserving its wearers from the noxious influence of wine. Bacchus was the Roman god of wine and intoxication, known as Dionysus to the Greeks. The Egyptians often used amethysts for Talismans, their soldiers wearing them as Amulets for success in their exploits and calmness in danger.
The ancient Roman author Pliny says the Magi believed that if the symbols of the Sun and Moon were engraved upon the Amethyst it made a powerful charm against witchcraft, and gave its wearers success to their petitions, good luck and favor with those in authority. The Amethyst is the stone of St. Valentine, who is said to have always worn it. During the Middle Ages in the days of romance and chivalry, if an amethyst was presented by a lady to her knight, or a bride to her husband in the shape of a heart set in silver, it was said to confer the greatest possible earthly happiness on the pair who would be blessed with good fortune for the remainder of their lives.
Amethyst is a 7 on the Mohs Scale of hardness. The only difference between regular clear quartz crystal and amethyst is the color. The purple is caused by iron and aluminum that were present while the stone was forming. Amethyst is always a shade of purple, sometimes very light, other times very dark. Occasionally you will find red dots or red or blue hues in the stone. Amethyst and citrine are closely related. Citrine is formed when amethyst is exposed to heat when forming. Sometimes people even call citrine “burnt amethyst”. When citrine and amethyst are found together in one piece, it is called ametrine and is very sought after. “Green amethyst” is more properly called prasiolite. It is another form of heat-treated amethyst that is pale green in color.
Amethyst jewelry and other uses date back to Neolithic times 25,000 years ago. It has often been associated with royalty, and used in crowns and royal rings. It was once a precious stone, but it is now common enough to be considered semi-precious. Amethyst gemstones are very popular in jewelry. They are hard enough to be durable and are readily available and affordable. Even high-grade material is relatively inexpensive. They are also available in a huge range of sizes and shapes. Amethyst jewelry is beautiful, powerful, and beneficial!