Amethyst (from the Greek “amethystos”, meaning “not drunken”) is widely known for its ability to prevent intoxication. Is that something you’ve heard before? Do you know where it comes from? I shall tell you and share some of my favourite amethyst jewellery designs for good measure…
Long ago, in Ancient Greece, wine was not quite like what we drink today; it was very thick, syrupy and strong. To ensure it would keep for longer, a kind of pin resin known as turpentine was added to it. However, the Greeks didn’t understand that this cocktail could cause drunkenness in minutes. The ethical norms of that time stipulated that being drunk was shameful behaviour, so to solve this problem, wine was diluted with water. The violet shade of amethyst was used as an indicator of the optimal concentration: diluted wine is paler, similar to the colour of purple quartz and, correspondingly, less intoxicating.