February Birthstone
The birthstone for February is amethyst, a gemstone long admired for its luminous depth of colour and enduring symbolism. Across ancient civilisations and later European tradition, amethyst has been valued not only for its rare and captivating colour but for the meanings it came to hold; clarity, protection and devotion. From Egyptian amulets and classical intaglios, medieval rings and royal jewels, the stone has appeared in many forms of adornment. The following history traces how amethyst moved through myth, faith, and ornament to become one of the most culturally resonant gemstones associated with the month of February.
Thousands of years ago, in ancient Egypt, amethyst was a prized gemstone associated with protection and refined adornment. It was mined in royal expeditions, extracting the deep violet quartz for jewellery and amulets. Egyptians carved amethyst into beads, scarabs, and inlays, often placing them in burials as protective talismans for the passage to the afterlife.
Etymologically, the name amethyst comes from the Greek amethystos, meaning “not intoxicated.” In ancient Greece and Rome, the stone was believed to protect its wearer from drunkenness and excess. The story of its origin gives light to this unique meaning. In Greek myth, the origin of amethyst is told through the story of Dionysus, god of wine and ecstasy and Amethyste, a maiden devoted to chastity. Dionysus was pursuing this maiden on her way to worship Artemis. To protect her from Dionysus, Artemis turned the girl into a statue of clear quartz. Struck with remorse, Dionysus wept tears of wine over the stone, staining it a deep violet and creating the first amethyst. The gem thus came to symbolise protection from drunkenness. In ancient times, wine goblets were carved from amethyst, and amulets were worn as talismans of mental clarity and protection.
As time went on, the meaning evolved to a spiritual and religious context. In medieval Europe, amethyst became closely tied to the Church. Bishops wore amethyst rings as symbols of piety, humility, and spiritual wisdom. Its violet hue bridging earthly red and heavenly blue was seen as a colour of spiritual balance. The gemstone thus came to represent devotion, contemplation, and connection to higher understanding.
Amethyst was a popular stone used for intaglio rings in antiquity. The stone combined practical carving qualities with rich colour and symbolism. As a durable yet workable quartz, it allowed engravers to cut fine, legible designs that impressed cleanly into wax seals. Its transparent violet depth enhanced the visibility of carved figures or deities, while its ancient associations with sobriety, protection, and sound judgement made it especially fitting for signet rings objects that conveyed personal meanings.
According to later medieval legend, St Valentine himself wore a ring set with an amethyst carved with the figure of Cupid, the god of love. It was believed that young couples recognised the bishop by this ring and sought his guidance. Whether apocryphal or not, the story beautifully unites February’s birthstone with Valentine’s Day history representing the devotional love.
