Talk:Amethyst/@comment-28584561-20150108141608

Trivia Time!

The amethyst gem is associated with the Greek/Roman god Dionysius/Bacchus not because of intoxication, contrary to popular belief, but because of the exact opposite of that, sobriety. It's name even implies it, amythest came from the greek word ametusthos, "a" meaning "not" and "metusthos" meaning "intoxicated", not intoxicated/druken. Most greek drinking vessels were decorated with amethysts to ward away intoxication.

A lot of myths explain how this stone came to be. One myth tells that Dionysus (Greek, Bacchus if Roman) got angry at an insult and decreed that his tigers would slay the next mortal he met. The next mortal whom he met was a beautiful woman named Amethystos, who was on her way to pay tribute to Artemis (Greek, Diana if Roman). The tigers were about to attack Amethystos but Artemis quickly intervened and turned her into a clear crystal statue so the tigers' claws wouldn't hurt her. Seeing his cruelty, Dionysus poured some of his wine onto the statue which gave it its distinct purple color.

Another was when Bacchus was pursuing a maiden named Amethyste, who always politely declined Bacchus' advances. Amethyste prayed to the gods to remain pure and was heard by Diana whom turned her into a white stone statue. Humbled by Amethyste's choice, he poured his wine on the statue dyeing it purple.

The more you know. ..