Chevron amethysts are crystals with a distinctive zig-zag pattern that forms when multiple layers of quartz grow on top of each other. The name Chevron comes from the Greek word for “zig-zag,” and amethyst is derived from the Greek word for “not intoxicated.”
According to legend, the Chevron amethyst got its name and properties from the story of Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry. Dionysus was angry with a young woman named Amethyst who had refused his advances, and he vowed to have her devoured by a wild beast. As she was about to be attacked, she called out to Athena for help. Athena intervened and turned Amethyst into a pillar of white quartz. When Dionysus saw what had happened, he wept tears of wine over the stone, giving it its distinctive purple color.
Chevron amethysts are said to posses the power to protect their wearer from intoxication, and they are often used in crystal therapy to promote sobriety. Today, Chevron amethysts are popular crystals for jewelry and decoration, and they can be found in a wide range of colors, from pale lilac to deep violet.