Why is it called Amethyst?

Rémi Belleau was a french poet living in Paris during the European renaissance. In 1576, he created a series of poems about precious stones, attributing their origins to the Greek gods of legends. His story about the creation of Amethyst went a little something like this:

Long ago, a beautiful maiden was on her way to worship at the Temple of Artemis. However, she had the misfortune of crossing paths with the god of wine, Dionysus. Angered, since he’d just suffered some slight, he’d vowed to take revenge on the next person he met. He spied the maid and unleashed his two guardian tigers upon her. As the great beasts bounded towards the helpless maiden, the goddess Artemis intervened. To spare her such a terrible fate, she turned her into a statue of pure quartz.

Immediately, remorse seized Dionysus. To atone for his actions, he poured his wine over the stone, staining the crystal a deep, violet hue. And so, the maiden Amethyst lent her name to the crystal.

The story has been altered many times and the details are never the same in any two versions, but the beauty of the story is always there. This story has wildly and often been mistaken for a true Greek legend when it is instead a fabrication from the mind of a terrific poet of the 18th century.

Dream Amethyst Spheres

Amethyst Rough Stones

Amethyst Tumbled Stones

Amethyst is associated with the Greeks in its true namesake; Amethystos is a greek word for "not-drunk" and the stone was thus named Amethyst because it was believed, even in Ancient Greece, that having an Amethyst stone with you while drinking would prevent over-drinking. It's amazing how we have the same thoughts and actions as people who lived thousands of years before us, isn't it?

There you go! A very short explanation about why Amethyst is named Amethyst. For some great amethyst crystals, click one of the pictures above or just check out our entire collection at www.gemsprite.com. Thanks for reading!

- Stephen Butler, CEO

Gemsprite