Amethyst is known as a stone of purity and innocence. In the Middle Ages, it was considered the stone of love. In ancient Egypt, it symbolized happiness and health, in Europe, it stood for sincerity and honesty, while in India, it represented peace.
The word “Amethyst” comes from the Greek “amethystos”, meaning “not drunk” or “non-intoxicating”. It was believed to be a remedy against drunkenness. People thought that drinking from an amethyst cup would prevent intoxication. The stone was also used to help overcome alcohol addiction. In ancient Rome, amethysts were placed in wine goblets because they were believed to neutralize poison.
There is an ancient legend about amethyst:
Bacchus, the god of wine and viticulture, sought revenge on humans and swore that the first person he met would be torn apart by his tigers. That person was the beautiful nymph Amethyst, who was on her way to the temple of the goddess Diana. As the beasts attacked her, she called upon Diana for help. The goddess, unable to find another solution, transformed her into a statue of pure white stone. Regretful of his actions, Bacchus poured grape juice over the statue—not to bring her back to life, but instead, turning the stone into a deep violet hue.
