AMETHYST (5.m'e-thist), (Heb. , akk• la a precious stone, mentioned in Scrip ture as the ninth in the breastplate of the high priest (Exod. xxviii :19; xxxix :12), and the twelfth in the foundations of the New Jerusalem (Rev. xxi :2o). The concurrence of various cir cumstances leaves little doubt that the stone an ciently known as the amethyst is really denoted by the Ilebrew word, and as the stone so called by the ancients was certainly that which still con tinues to bear the same name, their identity may be considered as established.
(1) Color. The transparent gems to which this name is applied are of a color which seems composed of a strong blue and deep red, and ac cording as either of these prevails, exhibit differ ent tinges of purple, sometimes approaching to violet and sometimes declining even to a rose color. From these difference; of color the an cients distinguished five species of the amethyst ; modern collections afford at least as many va rieties, but they are all comprehended under two species-the Oriental Amethyst and the Occi dental Amethyst. These names, however, are
given to stones of essentially different natures, which were, no doubt, anciently confounded in the same manner.
(2) The Oriental 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, (3) The Occidental Amethyst. Amethysts were much used by the ancients for rings and cameos, and the reason given by they were easily cut-'sculpturis ladles' (Hist. Nat. xxxvii :9), shows that the Occidental spe cies is to be understood. The ancients believed that the amethyst possessed the power of dis pelling drunkenness in those who wore or touched it, and hence its Greek name, ab a p riva tin, et u(060.1, ebritts sum' (NIartini, it. 158). In like manner the Rabbins derive its Jewish name from its supposed power of procuring dreams to the wearer.
AMI (11eb. aw-met'), one of the servants of Solomon ( Ezra ii :57).