Madagascar banded amethyst heart A 40mm

For thousands of years, amethyst has been widely used in goldsmithing. This stone pairs very well with gold. In fact, for many years, amethyst was valued as highly as diamonds. Then, a very large quantity of amethyst was discovered in South America, which significantly reduced its value.

In ancient Egypt, this stone was used to carve seals and amulets. Soldiers wore it to ward off fear. It also had the power to bring rain during droughts.

But the name of this gemstone is of Greek origin. Methystos means intoxication and the prefix "a" indicates suppression. Amethyst is therefore linked to sobriety. Several legends tell the origin of amethyst, but the best known are those of Amethystos.

In Greek mythology, Dionysus, god of wine and drunkenness, is known for his excess and madness. One day, he fell madly in love with Amethystos, a young nymph. He desired her deeply and began to court her. But Amethystos wished to remain chaste and refused Dionysus' advances. Amethystos turned to Artemis, goddess of the hunt, for help. Artemis decided to protect her and transformed her into a white crystal statue. Mad with rage and humiliation, Dionysus threw wine on the precious statue, and it began to turn an intense, pure purple.

Another version of this legend tells that Dionysus, after several humiliations at the hands of humans, decided to take revenge. He set tigers on humans. The first encounter was with Amethystos, a beautiful and gentle young woman. Then Artemis, goddess of the hunt, transformed her into a statue of white quartz to protect her from Dionysus's wrath. Regretting his outburst of violence, he poured wine over the statue as an offering. The statue then took on a magnificent purple hue.

In Christianity, amethyst was a symbol of purity and humility, as Joseph gave one to Mary. This stone also represents love. Indeed, Saint Valentine, the priest who founded the feast of lovers, always wore a magnificent amethyst around his neck. Among Christians, amethyst also represents fidelity. In fact, the Vatican Bishops all wear a ring with an amethyst, signifying their devotion to the Church.

During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci used it to suppress negative thoughts and boost his creative intelligence. He recorded this use of amethyst in one of his precious notebooks.

In the past, nobles used amethyst chalices to prevent poisoning attempts at banquets. Wine was sometimes poured into amethyst cups. This accentuated the color of the wine and allowed the guest to gradually replace the wine with water as they became more intoxicated. This explains why amethyst is known to combat drunkenness.

In lithotherapy, amethyst helps control unreasonable passions and banishes obsessive thoughts. Amethyst soothes anxiety and anger and allows for mental rebalancing.

Amethyst is the stone of wisdom and humility. It promotes spiritual elevation, concentration, and meditation. It stimulates imagination, creativity, clarity of mind, and serenity.