Amethyst is a purple and pale reddish variety of quartz. It is believed that in ancient times all magenta, purple and mauve color minerals were known under this name. It is often called the “violet stone” and in ancient China it was called “purple stone nobility.”
Amethyst symbolizes sincerity and honesty, security and peace (Europe), happiness and health (Ancient Egypt), peace (India). The stone brings happiness to selfless and dedicated people. Traditionally, the clergy is particularly attracted to this stone because they believe that Amethyst helps to draw the souls of the faithful to God. This is a favorite stone for the decoration of ecclesiastical objects. Amethyst is often called the Cardinal (the Catholics) or the Bishops (the Orthodox) stone, as the rings which these princes of the church should traditionally wear according to their ranks are made of Amethyst and Sapphire. Episcopal amethyst rings were worn over Episcopal gloves on the fourth finger of his right hand. The earliest of the bishops’ rings are known to us from the tenth century, but in some countries they came from, apparently, even earlier. From the XII century some priors on the basis of papal privileges also gained the right to wear these pastoral rings, and from the XV century this right was granted to every abbot. It is widely believed that only people of very high spirituality and morality are worthy to wear Amethyst. Even after death of its owner Amethyst keeps the force of his spirit.
The ancient Egyptians, Sumerians and Babylonians often wore Amethyst amulets as a defense against diseases and evil rock, and the Greeks and the Romans – against bad deeds and love obsession. In ancient times in China bottles for storing spices, balms and healing ointments were made from this stone. Amethyst vessels and scarabs are also often found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. Amethyst is often mentioned in the Scriptures, in particular, it is the twelfth foundation of the Heavenly Jerusalem wall (Revelation, XXI, 20) and ranks among the stones in the breastplate of the biblical high priest Aaron (Exodus, XXXIX, 12).
According to ancient legends, Amethyst protects against alcoholism and dispels the fumes of wine as well as against the temptations, drugs, excess of passion and emotion. It brings good luck and happiness, especially to unselfish and dedicated people, gives wisdom and generosity, deliberate courage, compassion, and inspires hope, promotes meditation and communion with God, relieves mental strain, fatigue, stress, brings recognition to the art world, stimulates inspiration, strengthens the social situation and vision. This stone focuses the cosmic energy so far unknown to us. It has a positive effect on a weak and fragile human’s aura, does not evolve vice. The one who carries it is not sick with gout. And putting Amethyst under your pillow at night helps to get rid of the devilish temptations. It ensures consistency and protects against the evil fate, the evil eye and nostalgia, magic and disease; symbolizes loyalty, honesty and hope; evoke sweet and good dreams (for that reason, it is not recommended to wear Amethyst in the workplace).
Amethyst soothes anger: a person wearing it is not influenced by evil thoughts. It helps when catching wild animals and birds. This is an excellent remedy for wrinkles and freckles, warts and moles – it is recommended to smooth them with amethyst cabochon as often as possible. The gemstone protects seamen, having power over the winds; can save its owner from the hurricane and other natural disasters. Sometimes Amethyst seemingly for no apparent reason changes its color – it means that it presages a storm. Thus it predicts the weather and, in particular, when it freezes, it rains, etc. Fresh melt water with Amethyst abandoned in a vessel helps with colds, diseases of the liver and kidneys; strengthens the brain and the stomach (but swallowing a crystal is not recommended). In ancient times, people were confident that it is possible to correct tongue-tie and other defects of speech (stuttering, etc.) with the help of Amethyst, if you wear it in the third, seventh and eleventh day of the Moon.
It is also called the “soldiers stone”, as it protects from war wounds; often called the “widows stone” – not because it turns women into widows – but because a wife who has lost her beloved husband and does not want to think about a new marriage, wears amethyst as a symbol of fidelity. In the XIX century it was often called the “stone of the old bachelor.” However, in ancient Mesopotamia people believed that Amethyst expels former love of a woman’s heart, and opens it for a new heart affections. Sumerians attributed the power to evoke a love of the recipient to it, even if a woman who accepted a gift had been in love with another man. It was cut on one of the Sumerian clay tables on this occasion:”Beware of it, a woman betrothed or married.”
Wearing this stone is useful for the growth of prudence. Those who own it can drink as much alcohol as they please while not losing their mind. In order not to get drunk, we must at the same time keep the stone under the tongue, or drink wine from amethyst cup or glass. For this reason the images of Selena and Bacchus (Dionysus) were engraved on ancient cups – it increased the strength of the stone. Not for nothing Amethyst in Greek means “preventing intoxication”.
Amethyst is the most valuable jewelry gem of a group of quartz. It is not recommended to wear amethyst jewellry permanently, because sometimes during constantly wearing its wonderful power weakens.