AMETHYST

Amethyst, was set into gold rings as early as 2500 BC and is a gemstone rich in myth, legend and lore. Derived from the Greek 'amethystos', which means ‘not drunk’.

Amethyst is mythologically associated with Dionysus (Bacchus), the Greek god of wine, and was once fashioned into talismans and goblets to prevent intoxication. If you fill an Amethyst goblet with water, it does look a lot like wine, so perhaps this legend has a grain of truth after all.

Long before Roman emperors donned the bright purple ‘toga picta’, pharaohs, kings and queens made purple a potent symbol of sovereignty.

From the signet of Cleopatra, an Amethyst engraved with a figure of Bacchus, to the Amethyst necklace of Queen Charlotte, wife of George III of England, Amethyst will forever be linked to royalty, fashion, prestige and power.

One of the most well-known of those protections involves amethyst’s purported power to prevent drunkenness. A myth about Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, has promoted this belief.

The story goes as follows:

According to Greek mythology, Amethyste was a beautiful virgin maiden who was on her way to worship at the Temple of Diana. Unfortunately for Amethyste she came under the wrath of Bacchus, the god of wine, intoxication and grapes.

Bacchus was pursuing Amethyste and became enraged when she refused his affections. When Amethyste cried for the virgin goddess Diana to help her remain chaste, she immediately answered her prayers and transformed her into a white glimmering Quartz stone to protect her from Bacchus.

Humbled by her wish to remain chaste, Bacchus poured red wine over the stone as an offer of respect, transforming the stone into the purple crystals we now know as Amethyst. And so, the maiden Amethyste lent her name to the crystal, Amethsyt.