Jewelry Color of the Month for February: Amethyst
Amethyst is February's birthstone. Having properties of cleansing, protection, and intuition, this gemstone is from the quartz family and ranges in hues of lilac to deep violet and red. The purple color of Amethyst is due to its iron and aluminum impurities. Coming from only a handful of countries around the world (US, Canada, India, Russia, Brazil, Australia, and South Korea, etc.), Amethyst has interesting mythology surrounding the gem. Read further for a more in-depth perspective on the mythology behind this shimmering stone.
In ancient Greece its wearers were said to be protected from intoxication and granted a balanced mindset. A myth involved the Greek god Dionysus and the goddess Diana. Amethystos was a young maiden, virgin that crossed paths with Dionysus - god of wine, agriculture, and patron god of the Greek stage. Dionysus was intoxicated and tried to seduce the young girl. Amethystos withstood his wrath after deciding to remain chaste; she cried out to the goddess Diana - goddess of the hunt, the moon, the wilderness, and childbirth and adolescence. Diana turned the maiden into a shimmering white stone - quartz. Dionysus, humbled by the girl's persistence to stay a virgin, poured wine over the gemstone turning it the color of deep velvet purple and red.
Another version of the story is that in a way to get vengeance with mortals after having been insulted by one, Dionysus set a trap with tigers and caught Amethystos who happened to be the first innocent person to walk by. She was in worship of Diana at this moment and the goddess quickly turned her into quartz stone which would protect her from the tigers, but leave her a statue. Dionysus felt so bad about what happened to the beautiful girl that he wept and wept tears of wine all over the gemstone and this is the reason for its vibrant and beautiful color. Eventually the ancient Greeks began wearing the stone to ward off drunkenness, and interestingly the word Amethyst translates literally to not drunk.
Being that mythology spans the globe and leaves virtually none of the worlds regions untouched, the mythology only begins here. The stone also kept wearers safe in battle by allowing them a quick wit and a clear head, which was also handy during business transactions. Used in goblets it warded of belligerence and the darker tones of being drunk, not only preventing it altogether. Amethyst was also used in crowns of royalty and was once considered as precious as ruby, emerald, and sapphire. Amethyst is no doubt a breathtakingly beautiful stone, especially in raw form and in the rare Siberian Amethyst; demonstrating the most rich, vibrant, and lush color in comparison to many other gemstones. The myths surrounding Amethyst are artifacts lending credibility to the healing properties of gemstones. For more articles, and beautiful handmade jewelry contact us today.
Photo Credit
- Amethyst Crystal Cluster - 123RF
- Photo by Jason Deines from Pexels
