Editing Amethyst (section)

==Cultural history==
===Ancient Greece===
[[File:Amethyst close cropped.jpg|thumb|[[Emerald cut]] amethyst]]
The Greek word {{lang|grc-latn|amethystos}} may be translated as "not drunken", from Greek {{lang|grc-latn|a-}}, "not" + {{transliteration|grc|methustos}}, "intoxicated". Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness.{{efn|
The earliest reference to amethyst as a symbol of sobriety is in a poem by [[Asclepiades of Samos]] (born {{circa|320&nbsp;{{sc|BCE}} }}).<ref>
{{cite book
 |author = [[Asclepiades of Samos]]
 |section = XXX. Kleopatra's Ring
 |translator-first = Edward |translator-last = Storer
 |title = The Windflowers of Asklepiades and the Poems of Poseidippos
 |place = London, UK
 |publisher = Egoist Press
 |year = 1920
 |url = https://archive.org/stream/cu31924026460844#page/n17/mode/1up
 |page = 14
}}
</ref>
:
An epigram by [[Plato the Younger]] also mentions amethyst in connection with drinking: "The stone is an amethyst; but I, the tipler Dionysus, say, "Let it either persuade me to be sober, or let it learn to get drunk."<ref> 
{{cite book
 |editor1-first = George |editor1-last = Burges |display-editors = etal
 |title = The Greek Anthology
 |place = London, UK
 |publisher =George Bell and Sons
 |year = 1881
 |page = [https://books.google.com/books?id=FDgRAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA369 369]
}}
</ref>
:
Pliny says about amethysts: "The falsehoods of the magicians would persuade us that these stones are preventive of inebriety, and that it is from this that they have derived their name."<ref>
{{cite book
 |author = [[Pliny the Elder]]
 |title = Natural History
 |section = Book&nbsp;37, Chapter&nbsp;40
 |section-url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D37%3Achapter%3D40
}}
</ref> which is why wine goblets were often carved from it.<ref>
{{cite book
 |author =Federman, David
 |title=Modern Jeweler's Consumer Guide to Colored Gemstones
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=flqvBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA28
 |date=2012
 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media
 |isbn=978-1-4684-6488-7
 |page=28
}}
</ref>
}}

In his poem "L'Amethyste, ou les Amours de Bacchus et d'Amethyste" (Amethyst or the loves of Bacchus and Amethyste), the French poet [[Rémy Belleau]] (1528–1577) invented a myth in which [[Dionysus|Bacchus]], the god of intoxication, of wine, and grapes was pursuing a maiden named [[Amethyste]], who refused his affections. Amethyste prayed to the gods to remain chaste, a prayer which the chaste goddess [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]] answered, transforming her into a white stone. Humbled by Amethyste's desire to remain chaste, Bacchus poured wine over the stone as an offering, dyeing the crystals purple.{{efn|
The "myth" of Amethyste and Bacchus was invented by the French poet [[Remy Belleau]] (1528–1577).<ref>
{{cite book 
 |section = L'Amethyste, ou les Amours de Bacchus et d'Amethyste
 |title = Les Amours et Nouveaux Eschanges des Pierres Precieuses: Vertus & Proprietez d'icelles |lang = fr
 |trans-title = The loves and new transformations of the precious stones: Their virtues and properties
 |first = Remy |last = Belleau |author-link = Remy Belleau
 |place = Paris, FR
 |publisher = Mamert Patisson
 |year = 1576
 |pages = [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k522648/f21.image 4–6]
}} — Belleau's collection of poems
</ref>
}}<ref name=Kunz-1913/>{{rp|style=ama|p= 58–59}}

Variations of the story include that Dionysus had been insulted by a mortal and swore to slay the next mortal who crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wrath. The mortal turned out to be a beautiful young woman, Amethystos, who was on her way to pay tribute to [[Artemis]]. Her life was spared by Artemis, who transformed the maiden into a statue of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears then stained the [[quartz]] purple.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url = http://gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/amethyst.html
 |title = Amethyst
 |website = Gemstone.org
}}
</ref>

This myth and its variations are not found in classical sources. However, the goddess [[Rhea (mythology)|Rhea]] does present Dionysus with an amethyst stone to preserve the wine-drinker's sanity in historical text.<ref>[[Nonnus]], ''[[Dionysiaca]],'' 12. 380</ref>

===Other cultural associations===
Tibetans consider amethyst sacred to the [[The Buddha|Buddha]] and make prayer beads from it.<ref>
{{cite book
 |title = Tropical Gemstones
 |first = Carol |last = Clark
 |page = 52
}}
</ref>{{full citation|date=March 2024|reason=Year, edn. publ.}} Amethyst is considered the [[birthstone]] of February.<ref name=americangemsociety>
{{cite web
 |title = February birthstone: Amethyst
 |website = [[American Gem Society]] (americangemsociety.org)
 |date = 12 January 2016
 |url = https://www.americangemsociety.org/february-birthstones
 |access-date = 4 February 2016
}}
</ref>
In the Middle Ages, it was considered a symbol of royalty and used to decorate English regalia.<ref name=americangemsociety/> In the [[Old World]], amethyst was considered one of the [[cardinal gem]]s, in that it was one of the five gemstones considered precious above all others, until large deposits were found in Brazil.<ref name="Geary-Whelen-2008">
{{cite book |author1=Geary, T.F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5abGjJ54mSoC&pg=PA69 |title=The Illustrated Bead Bible: Terms, tips & techniques |author2=Whalen, D. |publisher=Sterling Pub. |year=2008 |isbn=9781402723537 |page=69 |access-date=19 July 2015 |archive-url=https://www.cabochonsforsale.com/gemstone/amethyst |archive-date=16 January 2021 |url-status=live}}
</ref>