Amethyst Amethyst Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Koine Greek ἀμέθυστος "amethystos" from ἀ- "a-", "not" and μεθύσκω "methysko" / μεθύω "methyo", "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. The ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. Amethyst is a semiprecious stone often used in jewelry and is the traditional birthstone for February. Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz (SiO) and owes its violet color to irradiation, iron impurities (in some cases in conjunction with transition
HMS Amethyst (1799) American ship attempting to dock in a French port. This may have been "Caroline", captured on 14 April. In early June Cooke met up with Captain Sir Edward Pellew's squadron at Quiberon Bay. The squadron engaged in a successful large scale raid on Morbihan, though "Amethyst"s role, if any, is unclear. "Amethyst" was among the vessels of a squadron that shared the proceeds for the recapture on 28 June 1800 of "Lancaster". She was also part of Pellew's squadron, which shared in the proceeds of the capture of "Vigilant", "Menais", "Insolent", "Ann", and the wreck of a vessel that was