Amethyst earned its name from the Greek word amethystos, which translates to “not intoxicated.” The ancient Greeks believed that amethyst would prevent intoxication and keep them clear headed. During this time, amethyst stones would be carved into drinking goblets and filled with water, making the water look like wine. The water filled amethyst goblet would be kept next to the owner while drinking in order to prevent intoxication. Many Europeans also believed that amethyst would keep people calm and help heal injuries. Soldiers would wear amulets made of amethyst during battles, and some were even buried with these amulets. During the late 1400s, Leonardo da Vinci wrote that amethyst could also bring intelligence and lessen negative thoughts.

At its discovery, amethyst was a very rare stone. Its color was the most difficult and expensive color to make, making it a symbol of royalty and higher nobility. Popularly used in jewelry, amethyst stones were found in a number of different jewelry pieces, like England’s Queen Charlotte’s bracelet. Other countries’ higher nobles and royalty displayed amethyst in other ways as well. This stone has been discovered in Egyptian tombs, specifically the tomb of King Tutankhamun, where buried with him, a bracelet with amethyst carved into a scarab centerpiece was found. 

Amethyst was recorded in Greek and Roman mythology, including Dionysus (or Bacchus in Roman mythology) and Diana. Dionysus was the god of intoxication, and insulted by a human. He decided that tigers would eat the next person he met, who happened to be a princess named Amethyst. This princess was traveling to the shrine of the goddess Diana when she met Dionysus. However, there are two distinct variations of the story pertaining to what happened next. One variation says that when the tigers attacked Princess Amethyst, the goddess Diana protected her by turning her into a beautiful clear crystal. Dionysus, apologetic over what he had done, poured grape juice over the Princess Amethyst crystal, giving her crystal its purple color. The other variation of the story says that Princess Amethyst hid in a cave of crystals, and Diana protected her by sealing the cave. To reconcile his decision, Dionysus poured a red wine on the cave, turning the crystals within purple. Satisfied with this response, Princess Amethyst was freed from the cave.