話說起紫水晶，葡萄酒和寶石的緣起在希臘神話裡，介紹葡萄酒神戴奧奈索斯(Dionyosos)的同時都會提到紫水晶。奧奈索斯也就是羅馬神話裡的酒神巴克士(Bacchus)，希臘時期的酒神Dionysus具有瘋狂的象徵，代表感性創造幻想，自由度高，逃離現實， 追求完美。在神話裡酒神巴克士某天不順心，帶著隨從老虎一起外出散步，心情太差打定主意要老虎吃掉他遇見的第一個人。不巧居然碰上前往月神黛安娜神殿參拜的美麗少女精靈紫晶(Ameghyst)， 巴克士一見人立刻唆使老虎上前，月神為了救紫晶姑娘，當下將她變成了石頭。事後巴克士懊悔不已，於是將葡萄酒倒在石頭上。將之變成了美麗的紫色寶石，並宣佈任何人只要把這寶石戴在身上，就可以避免酒醉。從此之後紫水晶就成為預防酒醉的石頭。 因此在古希臘和羅馬時代。參加酒宴的人們都會隨身攜帶紫水晶在身上，相信只要戴著鑲有紫水晶的戒戒指或項鍊， 無論再怎麼豪飲，都不會露出醜態。紫水晶(Amethyst)在希臘語中是"不會喝醉"的語意， 酒醉(methus)前面加上否定字首a，即成了amethustos。

瓊漿玉液是中國人形容美酒之意，而瓊為美玉，玉為美石，石與酒還真是分不開啊。酒和寶石所代表的豐盈，觸動著我們的眼耳鼻舌身意感應了色聲香味觸法.  除了人們常以寶石的顏色來形容美酒，寶石也像美酒的結晶，有如詩人Emerson詩裡提到的Rubies are drops of frozen wine。說了一堆，其實是要為飲酒過量找藉口解圍。下面放上幾首和寶石有關的詩來對應兩種不同的酒：

( 我們這回有愛用國貨,喝台灣製的紅酒 )

Rubies - Ralph Waldo Emerson

They brought me rubies from the mine,

And held them to the sun;

I said, they are drops of frozen wine

From Eden's vats that run.

I looked again,--I thought them hearts

Of friends to friends unknown;

Tides that should warm each neighbouring life

Are locked in sparkling stone.

But fire to thaw that ruddy snow,

To break enchanted ice,

And give love's scarlet tides to flow,

When shall that sun arise?

Ben Jonson - The Alchemist Act II

The perfect ruby, which we call elixir,

Not only can do that, but, by its virtue,

Can confer honour, love, respect, long life;

Give safety, valour, yea, and victory,

To whom he will. In eight and twenty days,

I'll make an old man of fourscore, a child.

Lapidarium - Marbodus

 the Bishop of Rennes, 12th century epic poem