Emily Stehr

Interesting History of Amethysts Emily Stehr

Word Origin and History of Amethyst: "Noun - 1) a purple or violet quartz, used as a gem; 2) a purplish tint. "Adjective - 1) having the color of amethyst; 2) containing or set with an amethyst or amethysts. "Violet quartz, late 13th century, ametist, from Old French ametiste (Modern French amethyste) and directly from Medieval Latin amatistus, from Latin amethystus, from Greek amethystos 'amethyst', literally 'not intoxicating', from a- 'not' + methyskein 'make drunk', from methys 'wine' (see mead); based on the stone's ancient reputation for preventing drunkenness, which was perhaps sympathetic magic suggested by its wine-like color. People wore rings made of it before drinking. Spelling restored from Middle English ametist." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/amethyst Mrs Rowson; Miscellaneous Poems; 1804 Mrs Rowson writes: "Beside a spring, whose clear translucent wave / O'er variegated pebbles softly crept, / O'er which the lovelorn willow wept, / Deep in a coral rock, was form'd a cave. / There Nature still in sportive mood / Had deck'd the grot with spar's, and gems, and ore: / The flaming ruby there was seen, / The modest amethyst's unchanging blue, / Pure rocks of diamond, the emerald green; / And tho' the hand that deck'd it thus was rude, / The more 'twas gaz'd upon it pleas'd the more, / Forever various and forever new."