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) Guadaloupe, and his suite. On 30 July, "Amethyst" and two other frigates, and , sailed from Plymouth for the Isle of wight. There they were to pick up Dutch troops that they were to return to Holland. On 10 September "Amethyst" captured the French lugger "Alert", and recaptured a ship. In October 1801 Captain Charles Taylor took command of "Amethyst", only to be replaced in the next month by Captain Henry Glynn, for the North Sea. During the Peace of Amiens, "Amethyst" sailed on anti-smuggling patrols off the coast of Scotland under the command of Captain Alexander Campbell. During the