Whew, now that all of the Valentine’s Day hoopla is behind us, it’s time to focus on what really matters, people with February birthdays! Happy Birthday to you! So in your honor we’d like to dedicate this blog to your very own personal birthstone, the Amethyst.
An ancient variety of quartz, Greek mythology gives rise to amethyst via the god of intoxication and wine Dionysus. I may just now be getting a glimpse into why the Fraternity system is based on Greek. Anyways, you see Dionysus had a wicked crush on a maiden named, coincidently, Amethystos. Being the good, wholesome maiden that she was, Amethystos spurned Dionysus’ advances pleading to the gods to remain chaste. Her reasoning, at least to me, had one fatal flaw in the fact that she was pleading to the gods to protect her from a god. Not exactly a non-partial committee if you think about it. Although it would seem that the girl power movement was going strong even in ancient days because the goddess Artemis answered her pleas, turning her into a white stone. Another problem I have with Greek mythology, why is it that the poor human is always turned into a rock or a shrub or something to protect them from the evil god. Why doesn’t the god get turned into a shrub or a dung beetle? Elitist jerks. But, as the story goes, poor Amethystos was saved and Dionysus was so humbled that he poured wine over the stone as an offering, turning the pristine white stone into a deep purple amethyst. Now, that’s touching and all that, but it seems like a total waste of a good vino. But I digress, as usual.
True to its Greek roots, Amethyst gets its name from the Greek word amethustos meaning not intoxicated. It’s true, ancient Greeks, and everyone else through the middle ages believed that amethyst would protect you from getting hammered. They even went as far as to carve goblets from the gem hoping that any libations drunk from the cup would be rendered harmless. Are you listening frat guys and college students the world over, if you want to avoid that drunk dialing, hangover, or walk of shame, ditch those red solo cups, they were so last year anyways, and invest in a quality amethyst goblet. I’m sure you won’t regret it. Really.
Amethyst also has a few other purported super powers. It’s been said that it can clear your mind and protect you in battle. Which is a bit ironic since the purple heart is a medal won for being wounded in battle and it’s, well, amethyst purple. But the best trick up amethyst’s sleeve is that it was believed during medieval times to be a poison detector. According to ancient lore, if your amethyst stone dimmed, then it was in the presence of a poison. I can just hear the dinner conversation now.
Jim: “Oh good, they’re serving the soup course. This is tasty! And would you just look at how the candle light sparkles off of my… Oh God… my amethyst, it dimmed… the soup is poison! We’re all going to die!”
*Pandemonium ensues, soup bowls flying.
Meanwhile, Harold, who had the extreme misfortune of sitting next to Jim, but who is extremely levelheaded, comes to the rescue. Jim by the way, is still screaming his head off and waiting for death.
Harold: “Jim you idiot, they just lowered the lights so that the dining atmosphere would be more tranquil and serene!”
Jim : *Quiets immediately and looks around bewilderedly “Oh, missed that, sorry everyone false alarm! Enjoy your meals!”
I hope that you all enjoyed that brief tangent, I know I did! But back to the amethyst. As a type of quartz, amethyst is found all over the world in Russia, South Korea, Brazil, Africa, and even in the good old US of A. Amethyst can even be found right here in Georgia! And no, I’m not just talking about the beautiful pieces in our showroom. But well, since you asked, here are my favorites. Aren't they gorgeous? You should come to Union Diamond sometime and check them out. Tomorrow is good right?
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