What is an amethyst?
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek a- ("not") and methustos ("intoxicated"), a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. The Ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. Amethyst is a semiprecious stone, is the traditional birthstone for February, and occurs in primary hues from a light pinkish violet to a deep purple.
