The
Purple Gem: Amethyst
By Gina Ritter
Royalty wore purple, as so shall
we. Amethyst: transparent, purple quartz has been in demand throughout
history from Catherine the Great to the British royals and Egyptians.
Amethyst ranges in color from pale lilac (sometimes coined “Rose
de France”) used in Victorian jewelry to deep purple of
historical royalty.
Today, amethyst is mined in South
American countries like Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina,
as well as in Zambia, Namibia and other African countries. Some
darker amethyst is mined in Australia.
In Greek legend, it was the tears
of the god of intoxication, Dionysus, which stained the quartz
to the purple amethyst color it is today. Dionysus, one of the
‘black sheep’ of the Gods, was angered by a mortal
and foolishly swore revenge on any mortal that was unlucky enough
to cross paths with ferocious tigers he created to mirror his
anger. The young, mortal maiden, Amethyst, was an unsuspecting
victim. The goddess Diana turned Amethyst into a protective statue
of pure crystalline quartz and it was then that Dionysus wept
tears of wine on her statue in remorse.
Interestingly. The Greek word amethystos
means “not drunken” or “without drunkenness”
and amethysts were used in ancient Greece as a sobriety aid by
carving wine goblets from the purple quartz or holding an amethyst
gem under your tongue while drinking. Modern Greece still enjoys
its sobering symbolism today.
In the Middle Ages it was thought
to encourage celibacy, so Catholics and others adorned themselves
and their churches with Amethysts as a sign of piety. Likewise,
many Bishops continue to wear amethyst rings today and rosaries
of Tibet are fashioned with amethysts, as they were sacred to
Buddha.
Amethysts are encrusted in the
famed British Crown Jewels and the International Colored Gemstone
Association website states “Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that
amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence.”
Of course, today we still love
amethyst quartz for its uniqueness and royal beauty. From adults
to children wear it on our hands, wrists and at our neckline.
Strikingly beautiful hatpins and brooches are often encrusted
with amethyst, and we also know it to be February’s birthstone.
Amethyst makes a great gift for your February baby.
© Gina Ritter
Gina Ritter is
the owner of Natural
Family Online, co-owner of Balter
Baby and the Balter
Catalogue Company, a mom to three precious boys, and an
artist. You may reprint this article by contacting her at gina
[at] taylexson.org.