Pearls and amethysts were gemstones favoured by the Roman upper class. Teardrop pendants of the latter were used for earrings, necklaces and jewelled collars. The word amethyst comes from the Greek word amethystos, meaning sober. In ancient Greek and Roman culture, the amethyst gemstone was associated with the god of wine, Dionysus. Pliny classifies the mineral into five kinds, according to its colour, which ranged from a deep purple to nearly colourless. He also mentions some of its falsely ascribed attributes: that amethyst prevented drunkenness, protected against spells and warded off hail and locusts.
To find out more about the gemstones used in Roman jewellery please see our relevant blog post: The History and Mythology of Gemstones in Ancient Jewellery.
