|
|
|
|
|
Find what you need, want or dream
of.
Check out the many fine businesses on our
Center Yourself in Greene
Business Index |
 |
|
|
Living
Greene is always in Style |
 |
February's
Traditional
Birthstone
is
Amethyst |
 |
|
|
About
Amethyst |
|
Amethyst,
the
February
birthstone,
derived
its name
from the
Greek
word
"amethystos"
which
translates
as
sober.
In fact,
the gem
is
thought
to
protect
the
wearer
from
intoxication.
People
often
drank
from
goblets
made
from the
stone as
a way to
avoid
intoxication.
Amethyst
is a
form of
quartz
crystal
known
for it's
purple
color
ranging
from a
dark
purple
to mauve
to rose
to lilac
to a
pale
lavender
and
almost
clear.
Amethyst
can
range
from
translucent
to
opaque.
The
darker
more
intense
translucent
purple
with
flashes
of rose
is
considered
most
rare and
desirable.
Amethyst
is the
most
valuable
of all
quartz
sold as
jewelry.
 The
6-sided
crystals
often
grow in
cooling
lava
called
geodes
and
natural
forms of
this can
be found
sold as
natural
art
pieces.
The
prism
like
crystal
can grow
as a
long
singular
crystal
out of
rock
with the
point a
pyramid
or it
can grow
a crust
on a
rock
with all
the
points
sticking
out.
The
stone is
used in
jewelry,
other
adornment,
objects
and art.
It can
be
faceted,
smoothed
into a
polished
cabochon,
carved
and is
sometimes
used in
it's
natural
form as
a
crystal
or in a
geode.
A
favorite
of
royalty,
amethyst
was
often
used by
the
Egyptians,
is found
on
British
Crown
Jewels
and was
favored
by
Russia's
Catherine
the
Great.
It was
used to
represent
the
Spirit
of God
in the
robes of
Jewish
High
Priests
and was
used to
symbolize
chastity
and
piety in
the
ornamentation
of the
early
Catholic
Church
used as
the
stone of
high-ranking
clergy
including
a Papal
ring.
Amethyst
is the
state
gemstone
of South
Carolina. |
|
Amethyst:
Myth,
Legend
and
Folklore |
In Greek
mythology,
Amethyst
was a
beautiful
maiden
wrongly
targeted
for
punishment
by the
God of
Intoxication
Dionysius
who had
been
angered
by a
mortal.
Amethyst
had been
on her
way to
visit
the
temple
of Diana
who
turned
the
young
maiden
into a
statue
of pure
crystalline
quartz
to
protect
her from
the
tigers
sent to
kill
her.
When
Dionysius
saw the
beautiful
statue
of
Amethyst,
he wept
tears of
wine,
staining
the
crystal
stature
purple
and
creating
the gem
amethyst.
The
connection
with
Dionysius
may be
the
reason
the gem
is
thought
to
protect
against
intoxication
and was
often
carved
into
goblets
to
prevent
drunkenness.
Egyptians
also
thought
it could
ward
against
the
effects
of
poison.
Amethyst
was also
thought
to drive
out evil
spirits
and
protect
against
snakes
for
which
reason
eagles
supposedly
put
amethysts
in their
nests to
protect
the
young
eaglets.
It
was
thought
to
promote
wisdom,
divine
revelations,
stimulate
the
intellect
and
intuition
and
enhance
psychic
development
and
creativity.
It
has been
thought
to heal
headache
pain,
cure
insomnia,
settle q
queasy
stomach,
help
with
hearing,
ease
mental
illness
and give
the
wearer
good
dreams.
There
is no
surprise
that it
is the
birthstone
for
February
since it
represents
love,
spirituality,
chastity,
courage
and
peace.
|
|
Care and
Handling
of
Amethysts |
Never
clean
amethyst
in a
chemical
solution
or
mechanical
cleaner
unless
directed
so by
 a
jeweler.
Be king
to your
amethyst
with a
nice
bath in
soapy,
warm
water
using a
soft
bristle
brush.
Although
amethyst
is
sometimes
heat
treated
to
create
darker,
fade-resistant
color,
the gems
should
not be
exposed
to heat
or
light.
These
can make
the
color of
the gem
become
paler.
|
|
Amethyst
as
engagement,
anniversary
& Zodiac
gifts |
|
Because
amethyst
is
credited
with the
ability
to
strengthen
the bond
in a
relationship,
it makes
an ideal
engagement
ring or
anniversary
gift.
It is
the
anniversary
stone
for the
4th, 6th
and 17th
anniversaries.
Amethyst
is also
the
birthstone
for the
zodiac
sing
Pisces.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Help keep our site free to readers.
Please check at least one of our advertisers each
time you visit.
We thank you for your help. |
Find your Heart Right
Here in Virginia
 |
