A transparent gem, of a colour which seems composed of a strong blue and deep red; and, according as either prevails, affords different tinges of purple, sometimes approaching to violet, and sometimes even fading to a rose colour. The stone called amethyst by the ancients was evidently the same with that now generally known by this name; which is far from being the case with regard to some other gems. The oriental is the hardest, scarcest, and most valuable. It was the ninth stone in the pectoral of the high priest, and is mentioned as the twelfth in the foundations of the New Jerusalem.
The word thus translated in the common version is in Hebrew Achlamah and is the name of the precious stone mentioned in Scripture as the ninth in the breastplate of the high-priest (Exo 28:19; Exo 39:12): in the New Testament the precise word amethyst (which is Greek) designates the twelfth stone in the foundations of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:20).
The transparent gems called amethysts are of a color which seems composed of a strong blue and deep red; and according as either of these prevails, exhibit different tinges of purple, sometimes approaching to violet, and sometimes declining even to a rose color. All the varieties of it are comprehended under two species, the Oriental Amethyst and the Occidental Amethyst. The Oriental amethyst is very scarce, and of great hardness, luster, and beauty. It is in fact a rare variety of the adamantine spar, or corundum. Next to the diamond, it is the hardest substance known. It contains about 90 per cent, of alumine, a little iron, and a little silica. Of this species, emery, used in cutting and polishing glass, etc. is a granular variety. To this species also belongs the sapphire, the most valuable of gems next to the diamond; and of which the Oriental amethyst is merely a violet variety. Like other sapphires, it loses its color in the fire, and comes out with so much of the luster and color of the diamond, that the most experienced jeweler may be deceived by it.
The more common, or Occidental amethyst, is a variety of quartz, or rock crystal, and is found in various forms in many parts of the world, as India, Siberia, Sweden, Germany, Spain; and even in England very beautiful specimens of tolerable hardness have been discovered. This also loses its color in the fire.
Amethysts were much used by the ancients for rings and cameos; and the reason given by Pliny—because they were easily cut—shows that the Occidental species is to be understood. The ancients believed that the amethyst possessed the power of dispelling drunkenness in those who wore or touched it, and hence its Greek name. In like manner, the Rabbins derive its Jewish name from its supposed power of procuring dreams to the wearer.
A precious stone of a violet blue color, verging towards a bluish or reddish white. It is seldom uniform in color, and is generally cloudy and spotted with zigzag stripes. The most beautiful specimens come from Ceylon, the East Indies, Siberia, and Saxony. It is very highly prized, Exo 28:19 ; Jer 21:20 .\par
Hebrew root, "dream"; supposed to cause dreams to those who wore it. Greek, "protecting against drunkenness" Pliny says, because it approaches the color of wine without reaching it. The third jewel in the third row of the breast-plate of judgment. The twelfth of the precious foundation stones of the heavenly Jerusalem’s walls (Rev 21:20). A violet, or in the East a deep red, quartz; the eastern is a rare variety of the adamantine spar or corundum; the hardest substance next to the diamond, containing 90 per cent. alumine, with iron and silica. It loses color in the fire, and becomes like a diamond.
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Amethyst. One of the precious stones in the high priest’s sacred breast-plate. Exo 28:19; Exo 39:12. The oriental amethyst is a gem of great hardness and lustre, violet, and occasionally red; the occidental amethyst is a variety of quartz, of much beauty, but not difficult to cut. This stone had its Hebrew name,ahlâmah, from its supposed property of inducing dreams. Its Greek name, from which the English word comes, implied that it was a charm against drunkenness. The amethyst is mentioned as one of the foundations of the New Jerusalem. Rev 21:20.
A precious stone in the third row of the breastplate of the high priest, Exo 28:19; Exo 39:12; and the twelfth stone in the foundations of the wall of the heavenly Jerusalem. Rev 21:20. This gem is not definitely identified. It may be the purple variety of corundum, known as the oriental amethyst, or the transparent amethystine quartz which contains oxide of manganese and alumina. The Hebrew word is achlamah which is translated
By: Gerson B. Levi
A variety of quartz of a clear purple or bluish violet color, much used as a precious stone. It is generally accepted that the Amethyst held the ninth place and was in the third row among the precious gems on the breast-plate of the high priest (Ex. xxviii. 19, xxxix. 12); but the derivation of the Hebrew name aḦlamah is unknown (see Precious Stones).
AMETHYST.—See Jewels and Precious Stones.
(ἀìÝèõóôïò, Rev_21:20)
A variety of quartz of rock-crystal, of purple or bluish violet colour. Derived from ἀ, ‘not,’ and ìåèýóêåéí, ‘to intoxicate,’ it was regarded as a charm against the effects of wine. Quaffed from a cup of amethyst, or by a reveller wearing an amulet of that substance, the vine-juice could not intoxicate. This was doubtless a case of sympathetic magic, wine being amethystine in colour. In the Septuagint (Exo_28:19, etc.) ‘amethyst’ stands for aḥlâmâh, a stone which was regarded as a charm against bad dreams. The amethyst was used as a gem-stone by the ancient Egyptians, and largely employed in classical antiquity for intaglios. Naturally it was often engraved with Bacchanalian subjects. Being comparatively abundant, it is inferior in price to true gems, and is not to be confounded with the oriental amethyst, a variety of corundum, or sapphire of amethystine tint, which is a very valuable gem of great brilliancy and beauty.
James Strahan.