One of the crystals known since ancient times, Amethyst holds it own magic and myth. Purple is hard to get in the days before synthetic violet of the 19th century, thus a desirable color for the flaunting of wealth.
Amethyst opens channels to the divine. A beneficial hue for any gender, purple is a color of success.
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Amethyst gem is clear quartz rock crystal with inclusions of iron or other material, causing absorption of yellow or green light. Purple, a mix of blue and red, is the reflected light the human eye beholds. Coloring can vary from an airy touch to deep and intense.
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This stunning stone relates to divinity and the divine connection. It cleanses sources of blocked chakra energy and aids the flow of beneficial elements in spiritual or physical life. Amethyst is used in meditation to rise above the mortal worries and achieve heightened awareness, perspective or enlightenment.
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Use of amethyst is first recorded among the Egyptians, who regard it as a precious gem. It's found in royal tombs. In Egypt the best place to mine amethyst is Wadi el-Hudi, a river valley in the south of the country. The ancient mines can still be seen today.
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The name amethyst comes from the Greek meaning to "not intoxicate". Ancient Greeks and later Romans believe amethyst protects its owner from drunkenness, and maintains clarity of thought. It's associated with Dionysus, god of wine, theater and madness.
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Amethyst brooches, rings and beads are popular among the wealthy. Stone carvers show off their skills, resulting in beautiful work of the period. Like its mother stone quartz, amethyst is a crystalline gem and hard to carve due to breakage.
Going into battle the Romans wear or carry amethyst to keep the senses clear and maintain a calm state of mind. For those who clean up the battlefield after the main event, these little treasures are worth a fortune.
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In the Bronze Age amethyst is traded along the Amber Roads, the first trade routes of Eurasia. The main Amber Road is already in operation in the Early Bronze age and was used for many hundreds of years.
It runs from Gdansk area of Baltic Poland through to Italy and the rest of the Mediterranean, especially Greece. Later it extends to St. Petersburg, Russia. Other routes branch off, forming connections to lucrative regions. The Amber Road connects to the Silk Road, which appears c. 130 BCE, at the Black Sea.
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Amber is only one of the countless items traded on the early Baltic routes, but it's the reason the routes (still) exist. Both carved and faceted items of amethyst command royal prices.
Amethyst is said to have protective qualities against burglars, robbers and thieves, some of whom make a practice of robbing drunkards if the anti-intoxication part doesn't work. It's a general protector against danger and dangerous situations, which could happen if the stone doesn't work against either intoxication or robbers.
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In keeping with the belief amethyst protects against drunkenness, artisans carve drinking vessels from the stone. At this time the gemstone is highly valued and crafters are quick to take advantage of demand. Amethyst is used in jewelry, spirituality and as an item of trade.
Amethyst is the birthstone of February. In Tibet, it's considered the gemstone of the Buddha. Until the 18th century, amethyst is one of the five cardinal, or most valuable, gemstones. Diamond, sapphire, ruby and emerald make up the rest of the group.
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In Roman times an amethyst amulet is worth a month of wages, or the price of a slave. In the 1700s new amethyst deposits were discovered in South America, and the gem went from precious to semi-precious.
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Much the same thing happened with pearls. Once rare, valuable and dangerous to retrieve from the bottom of the sea, pearls held remarkable charm and mystique. When pearls were widely cultivated in the 20th century, the pearl market collapsed. Even the June birthstone was changed from pearl to alexandrite.
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Deep purple amethyst may show red or blue tones in the crystals. Again this is due to variations of reflected light. Although amethyst is not as valuable as once it was, the attraction of this gemstone is undeniable.
Purple is a color of leaders and kings. In spirituality it represents magic of the night, clarity and personal charisma or allure. Purple amethyst boosts self-confidence and inner strength. It enhances spiritual connection.
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When exposed to high temperatures amethyst can change from purple of shades of yellow resembling citrine. Heat alters the chemical compostion of amethyst. Placing the stone in bright sunlight might cause the color to fade altogether.
Alternately, amethyst colors can be artificially lightened or darkened. If only part of the stone is exposed to heat, the result is ametrine, combination of purple amethyst with areas of gold, yellow or orange.
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Collectors value natural crystal and colors. Size is not particulary important since many stones carry large geodes. Amethyst is one of the stones, along with its elite kin diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires, which can be artificially created in a lab.
Amethyst also occurs naturally, more rarely, in pink. A lavender variety, Rose de France, has gained popularity due to intensive marketing practices.
In much the same way, DeBeers created a demand for diamonds in the 1930s, associating the stone with emotions of love and the forever romance of marriage.
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Amethyst of natural source with deep, vivid violet and purple colors is most desired by collectors. For those who do spell work, natural amethyst is recommended in shades from lavender to deep purples, depending on the desired association.
The deeper the purple, the stronger the passion. Paler purples are conducive to harmony. A wealthy person is said to be 'in the purple'. At the same time, a woman with loose morals is called a purple harlot.
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