| Show emerald favorite among the gems emeralds were were the favorite favri te gems of cleopatra the embodiment ot of royalty and ana probably the most gem be decked queen of all time many of the green stories such as were often called balled victory stones by the old writers such a one was reputed by albertus magnus as having been worn by alexander the great in his girdle according to herbert P whitlock in natural history the well known purple gem the amethyst as its greek derivation indicates was regarded as an amulet which would prevent intoxication dr L J spencer in his book A key key to precious stones comments in a somewhat satiric vein on the use of this gem in episcopal rings he says for this reason bishops whose duties take them to public functions of all sorts wear an amethyst in the episcopal ring without doubt the medieval connection of the amethyst with bacchus god of the wine cup comes from the story of the nymph named amethyst one of those who followed in the train of diani diana bacchus in order to fulfill a drunken vow was about to offer her to be devoured by the tigers that drew his car the goddess in order to save her from this horrid death turned her into a white stone and bacchus repentant of his cruelty poured the juice of the grape over the stone figure dying it purple |
