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) company with , captured "Agnela". On 30 July "Amethyst" captured the "Ebenezer", and then on 1 August "Amethyst" captured "Juno". In December "Amethyst" participated in the pursuit of a French squadron under Admiral Willaumez. In November 1805 "Amethyst" encountered the brig-sloop off the coast of Madeira. After a series of ambiguous and misinterpreted moves by the other, the two captains mistook each other for enemies and opened fire. Both vessels survived and the two captains proceeded to exchange mutually recriminatory letters. "Amethyst" was among the vessels that shared in the proceeds of the capture, on 25 July 1805, of the