Amethyst derives its name from an ancient Greek word amethustos, which means sober. Although it was first written about as far back as 3,000 BC, the tale of Bacchus and the nymph Amethyst, might be one of the reasons it is now called the sober stone.
Bacchus was was so mad at Diana over a slight, he vowed that the next person to enter his forest to worship her, would be devoured by his tigers. So when the virgin Amethyst entered his forest to worship at Diana’s shrine, and the tigers came after her, she appealed to her goddess for help. Diana helped her by turned her into a pure white stone.
Bacchus later regretted his actions, and I’ve read two versions of the story…either he poured his wine on the stone, turning it the purple color it is today, or he cried purple tears staining it the color it is today.
The ancients believed then, if you drank wine or spirits from a cup made of amethyst, or had an amethyst stone within it, you would not become drunk. Although I don’t believe that is literally true, many recovering alcoholics do wear jewelry today that has amethyst stones within it.
Sources
Jewels For Me – History and Lore of Amethyst
gem-meanings.blogspot.com by Forest Harper
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