Amethyst: The Stone of Sobriety and Celibacy
With its regal color, the amethyst gemstone commands attention. Amethyst is both a modern and traditional birthstone for the month of February. However, any day of the year is a good day to wear amethyst—a gemstone that has meant much for different civilizations.
 Amethyst is a variety of quartz and is usually found in a range of colors from violet to deep, dark purple. Its color is influenced by the presence of iron. Amethyst occurs naturally, but it can also be synthetically produced. Most amethyst gemstones on the market today have undergone a bit of heat treatment. Sometimes, an amethyst gemstone will exhibit red or blue as a secondary color.
Deep Russian (deep Siberian) amethyst is the hardest to find and is also the best quality. Amethyst is one of the most popular varieties of quartz. When heated, its color will change to a shade of yellow. In fact, some people have referred to yellow quartz, cairngorm, or citrine as being amethyst that has been burned. At 7.0 on the Mohs scale of hardness, amethyst is a sturdy stone, but it is very important to keep your amethyst gemstones away from extreme heat conditions if you want to maintain their beautiful regal color.
Some of the places where amethyst gemstones have been found include Austria, Uruguay, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Zambia, South Korea, India, Russia, and the United States.
Amethyst’s name is derived from the Greek words “a,” meaning “not”, and “methustos,” meaning “intoxicated.” People of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations adorned themselves with amethyst. They also made wine goblets with amethyst. There was a strong belief amongst them that amethyst kept its wearer or goblet holder from becoming drunk.
Other names by which amethyst has been known include lavendine, amethystine quartz, and Bishop’s Stone. During the Middle Ages, many churches, especially the Catholic church, believed amethyst gemstones were a symbol of piety, and also that the stones aided in celibate thoughts. It was during this time period that amethyst became known as a gemstone that was strongly preferred by bishops.
Amethysts, with their regal purple colors, were cherished by British and Egyptian royalties. In fact, the famous British Crown Jewels contain some amethyst gemstones.
Amethyst is not as expensive as the “big four” gemstones: diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. However, the rich color of an amethyst will undoubtedly give you luxurious feelings. As you wear your amethyst bracelet, earrings, necklace, pendant, or ring, keep in mind how amethyst got its name. More importantly, however, keep your mind sober…metaphysical beliefs of the past will not keep you safe. Your actions, not those of your amethyst, will ultimately protect you.
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