The beautiful violet stone, amethyst, is the stone used to honor the month of February. The Greek word amethystos which means ‘not intoxicated’ is where the name amethyst is derived. Amethyst has a rich history that has spanned many ages and cultures. I am excited to dive in and discover interesting facts, folklore and famous amethysts from around the world.
Facts
Amethyst is a form of quartz and is considered the most sought-after variety of quartz. The violet/purple color is from irradiation, impurities, and other trace elements. It is formed in spaces of basalt rocks which are formed from volcanic eruptions. Wondering what the most important things for amethyst to form? It is space. When space is present and filled with water, silica, ferric iron, carbon, calcium and oxygen and then is exposed to gamma radiation, an amethyst can form.
Although all amethyst is purple, some can appear to have a more pinkish violet, blue or red in certain lighting.
Amethyst scores a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness which is the same as quartz. This stone is safe to use in all jewelry. Care should be taken to store it away from harder stones such as diamonds and rubies. Abrupt temperature changes can cause fracture and prolonged intense light exposure can lead to fading. To clean amethyst, it is best to use warm soapy water. Ultrasonic cleaners can also be used if the stone is not dyed or treated with fracture filling. Steam cleaning is not recommended due to the heat.
Prior to the 19th Century, amethyst was just as rare and expensive as ruby and emerald. This all changed when a large deposit was discovered in Brazil. Although amethyst can be found all around the world, the most common sources are Brazil and Uruguay. Brazil is known for the lighter amethyst while Uruguay is known for the deepest purple amethyst which is most prized.
Folklore
There is a story of Bacchus, God of Wine and Fertility. In one variation of the tale, Bacchus was pursuing Amethyste, who was not interested in his advances. Wanting to remain pure, she asked the gods to help her. Diana, Goddess of the Hunt, answered her prayer and turned her into a clear quartz crystal to keep her pure. When Bacchus saw her dedication to her chastity, he poured wine over the crystal as a tribute to her. This turned the quartz purple.
In another variation, Bacchus was enraged over an insult and decided to exact his revenge on the next person he met. A maiden named Amethystos was on her way to Diana’s Shrine when she crossed Bacchus’ path. Bacchus unleashed his two tigers to attack Amethystos. Frightened for her life, she asked Goddess Diana for protection. To protect Amethystos, Diana turned her into a clear quartz crystal. When Bacchus realized what he had done, he cried violet tears over Amethystos and turned the crystal violet.
The two versions of this myth are not from the days of Ancient Rome. It was instead created during the Renaissance Period by a French Poet named Remy Belleau.
The Greeks associated amethyst with Dionysus, the God of Wine and Pleasure. They would use this stone when they needed to be clever and cautious whether in battle or business dealings. It was believed to bring out the highest aspirations of humankind.
Ancient Egypt also found an attraction to this gem. Amethyst was used in amulets not only for protection but also as a form of prayer. Over time, the simple amulets became much more elaborate and designed by those in priesthood. As far back as 3000 B.C., amethyst has been found to be in use in Egypt. Pharaoh Djer of Egypt’s 1st dynasty, King Tutankhamen and Queen Mereet were all discovered to have amethyst adornments in their tombs ranging from bracelets, anklets, and scarabs.
Amethyst was also used by Chinese practitioners of Feng Shui. They believed amethyst could transform lower or negative vibrations into positive ones. The Buddhist thought amethyst was sacred to Buddha and used them in prayer beads.
Early Christians often associated amethyst with Christ possibly due to the passage in the bible where Jesus was mocked and dressed in purple because he claimed to be King of the Jews. The color purple represented chastity and purity in Christianity. Some also believed the colors signified the wounds Jesus suffered and thought amethyst could aid in healing wounds. Amethyst was also said to be used at the foundation of New Jerusalem and was thought to be used on the Breastplate of Aaron. To this day, most bishops wear a ring with an amethyst set in it to symbolize the union of the bishop and the diocese. In Hebrew, amethyst is translated to ahlamah which translates to ‘dream stone’.
Amethyst was sought after over many centuries. Even Leonard da Vinci found a fascination with this gem. He wrote amethyst can quicken intelligence and get rid of evil thoughts. Amethyst was even believed to be worn by the patron saint of romantic love, Saint Valentine. It was said he wore an amethyst ring with an image of cupid carved into it.
Many cultures throughout time found amethyst to be a spiritual stone that was believed to bring tranquility and even sooth dreams by helping the dreamer be more aligned with the Divine. To this day, many psychics keep an amethyst with their tarot cards because it is believed amethyst can help the mind flow more freely between the mental and metaphysical dimensions.
One interesting bit of folklore states rubbing a wet amethyst on a pimple is said to cure the blemish.
Famous Amethyst
The Empress of Uruguay is the largest amethyst geode known. It was discovered in 2007 and took three months to excavate from the basalt stone that surrounded it. It stands over 10 feet tall and weighs over two tons!
Queen Mary of Great Britain had a splendid amethyst tiara, earrings, ring, and necklace parure (set). It is believed the parure was created in the 1900’s and was most likely a wedding gift. She is seen wearing them in a portrait taken in the 1890’s. All the items were put up for auction and their current location is unknown. Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief at vogue, did wear the necklace to a party at a museum in 2007.
At the Anahi Mine in Bolivia, three amethyst clusters were unearthed. It is extremely rare to find such massive amethyst clusters. The three clusters weigh over two tons with some individual points being between 3-8 inches in diameter.
Amethyst is a wonderful way to honor the month of February. Should you not have an affinity for amethyst, the zodiac sign of Pisces brings the colorful option of fluorite. Fluorite can be found in the colors of the rainbow with the additions of clear, white and black. Fluorite is thought to bring balance and, like amethyst, it is often used in feng shui due to its perceived ability to transmit negative energy into positive energy. No matter how you decide to honor February, you can choose from a rainbow of colors! Both amethyst and fluorite are available at my website. www.thscustomjewelry.com.
Tamra Albright-Johnson
