| A three part series on the Amethyst Gem | | | | available in larger sizes than the African amethyst |
| Stones | | | | but, on the other hand, amethyst from Africa |
| What is an amethyst gem stone? Amethyst is a | | | | have the reputation for having a better, more |
| violet or purpose variety of quartz. The name | | | | saturated color in smaller sizes. Very dark |
| comes from the Greek and essentially means, | | | | amethysts, mostly in small sizes, are also mined in |
| "not drunk". | | | | Australia. |
| It was believed that the stone protected it's | | | | As purple has always been considered a royal |
| owner from the intoxicating effects of alcohol and | | | | color it comes as no surprise that the amethyst |
| Dionysius, who was the god of intoxication, was | | | | gem stone has been so much in demand by |
| angered when he was insulted by a mortal and in | | | | royalty throughout history. You can see |
| a moment of pique vowed to enact revenge on | | | | amethysts featured in the British Crown Jewels. |
| the next mortal that crossed his path. He created | | | | They were also a favorite of Catherine the Great |
| tigers to carry out his wish and when a beautiful | | | | and Egyptian royalty. Amethyst, transparent |
| girl called Amethyst came among the path on her | | | | purple quartz, is probably the most important |
| way to pay tribute to the Goddess Diana, Diana | | | | quartz variety used in jewelry. |
| quickly changed the tigers into statutes of pure | | | | Leonardo Da Vinci once wrote that the amethyst |
| crystal quartz. Filled with remorse for his actions | | | | was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken |
| Dionysius wept tears which stained the quarts | | | | the intelligence. |
| purple creating the amethysts we know today. | | | | Because amethyst was thought to encourage |
| Amethysts can be found in many locations | | | | celibacy and symbolize piety, amethyst was very |
| including various areas of the US such as | | | | important in the ornamentation of Catholic and |
| Delaware county, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, | | | | other churches in the Middle Ages. It was, in |
| Texas and Yellowstone national Park for example. | | | | particular, considered to be the stone of bishops |
| Amethyst is also found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, | | | | and they still often wear amethyst rings. |
| Uruguay, as well as in Zambia, Namibia and other | | | | And in Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred |
| African countries. | | | | to Buddha with rosaries often fashioned from it. |
| Amethyst from South America tend to be | | | | |