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Amethyst
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Amethyst gets its name from the Greek amethustos meaning or "not intoxicated", this is appropriate as the ability to protect the owner from both strong drink but poisons is a theme that occurs many times in the folklore of this stone. Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, caused by impurities such as manganese or iron.
In addition to preventing poisoning, the amethyst in was thought to be able to quill passions and promote the intellect. It is through this calming effect that the gem was said to bestow shrewdness and cunning unblemished by emotion. Because of this the Speculum Lapidum recommended the stone for merchants and business men. Legend has that Cleopatra possessed a signet ring with a Maenad, one of the frenzied priestesses of Dionysus, engraved upon the amethyst. So great was the power of the stone that it “bound the Maenad into sobriety”, and Cleopatra credited the ring with her cunning diplomacy and cool demeanor under pressure.
The amethyst was also thought to cure madness and loss of reason. Which was likely connected to the belief that it bestowed rationality by freeing the wearer from panic or emotional disturbance. Roman soldiers would wear amethyst amulets to steady conviction and restore their courage. This calming effect made the stone popular with judges and diplomats, and eventually found the amethyst a place on the finger of catholic bishops and earned it the title "Bishop's Stone".
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A beautiful Greek legend tells how the stone gained these properties, it goes as follows:
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Dionysus was annoyed at some slight he had received from a mortal, and vowed that the next mortal who came down the road would be torn apart by tigers. As it happens Amethyst, a maiden pure of form and spirit, was on her way to the temple of Diana. When the tigers set upon Amethyst she cried out to Diana for help. Hearing this Diana spared Amethyst form a most horrible fate by turning her into a statue; since her soul was so chaste, she became pure rock crystal.
Upon seeing this miracle Dionysus poured a libation upon the frozen statue of Amethyst turning it purple, and swore that whoever bore her likeness would be forever free from his wrath. Dionysus is the god of debauchery, wine, and mad revelry so it is from the darker aspects of these things that Amethyst is said to defend.
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Colors
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Purple, from pale lavender to almost black
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Locations
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Worldwide
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Composition
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SiO2, quartz with impurities
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Hardness
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6-7
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