The nymph Amethyst was turned into clear quartz to protect her from Dionysus's wrath; Dionysus, remorseful, poured wine over the stone, staining it purple, thus creating amethyst—a stone said to prevent intoxication, linking it to sobriety and spiritual clarity.

Amethyst has been used in episcopal rings since the early Middle Ages, symbolizing spiritual wisdom, piety, and the bishop's role as a protector of the faith, connecting the stone to divine authority and clarity of doctrine.