Increase intelligence and ward off drunkenness with amethyst

Colors: Violet hues
Substance: Quartz
Moh’s scale of hardness: 7
Derivation: the Greek term "Amethystos," meaning "not intoxicated" - thought to ward off drunkenness, this also might mean pure.

The popularity of amethyst is due to several factors, mainly:

Healing powers Religious significance Abundance

It is a very common gemstone. In fact, it is simply a transparent purple quartz. Because of its abundance and purple color, it was a favorite of jewelers of the middle ages.

Since purple was the color of royalty, the jewelry was very valuable and worn by all of the queens and kings of the middle ages. Even today they are prominent in the British royal crown jewels.

The purple gem was also said to have healing powers. It was believed to ward off drunkenness and wine glasses used to be made entirely from this gemstone. Its name means "not drunken." Leonardo da Vinci wrote of this beautiful gem that it was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence.

The popular stone also holds religious significance. It is said to ancourage celibacy and symbolize piety. To this day bishops often wear rings set with this gem. For these reasons, Catholic churches of the middle ages were decorated with ornaments encrusted in these purple gems.

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