Crescent moon shaped - amethyst pendant

• size: 1.6cm x 2.3cm x 0.5cm
  
• lead-free, nickel-free

Amethyst is one of the best-known and most highly valued varieties of quartz. Its captivating purple-violet colour ranges from pale lilac to deep violet. The colour is caused by the presence of iron within the atomic structure of the quartz. This distinctive hue, together with amethyst’s hardness and attractive lustre, has made it a prized material for jewellery, decorative objects and ceremonial items for thousands of years.

Symbol meaning

The crescent moon is a very ancient symbol of the Moon and of time. It is based on an astronomical phenomenon: the phase of the Moon in which only part of its surface is illuminated. The Moon’s synodic cycle lasts on average 29.5 days, and the crescent phase appears during both the waxing and waning Moon.

As a symbol, the crescent moon is known from ancient Mesopotamia. In Sumerian and Akkadian culture it was associated with the moon god Sîn, and its emblem appeared in seals and reliefs around 2000 BCE. In ancient Greece and Rome, the crescent was linked with the goddesses Artemis and Diana. In late antiquity and the Middle Ages it entered Christian iconography, particularly in images of the Virgin Mary, where she stands upon a crescent based on the symbolism of the Book of Revelation.

Heraldic use became widespread in the Middle Ages, and the Ottoman Empire adopted the crescent as part of its state symbolism in the 14th–15th centuries. The association with witchcraft emerged only in the 20th century with new religious movements. In Wicca, which took shape in Britain in the 1940s–1950s, the crescent was connected with the lunar phases and the symbolism of the goddess.

A downward-facing crescent is a symbol representing the illuminated portion of the Moon and has been used in both astrology and alchemical imagery as the sign of the Moon. In alchemical tradition it is especially associated with silver and the lunar principle.

The orientation of the crescent influences its interpretation. A downward-turned crescent may be linked with the waning Moon, the phase just before the new Moon. This stage marks the end of a natural cycle and preparation for a new beginning. Symbolically, it refers to completion, release and transition toward the next cycle.

In some esoteric and spiritual interpretations, the downward-facing crescent is connected with inward turning and spiritual purification. The waning Moon is associated with reflection, letting go and preparation for new growth, which is also reflected in the symbol’s meanings.

Historically, the crescent shape is also known in Roman tradition as the lunula ornament. The lunula was an amulet given especially to girls and was believed to bring protection and good fortune. In this context, the crescent form functioned as a sign of protection and luck regardless of its exact orientation.

Amethyst is regarded as an exceptionally powerful and protective stone with a high spiritual vibrational frequency. It is believed to transform negative energies into love and to assist in reaching higher levels of consciousness. Amethyst is said to open the way to deeper understanding and meditative calm, and it is especially valued as a stone of the crown chakra. In astrology, amethyst is considered the stone of Pisces.

Contact details of the responsible market operator operating in the EU: Mani Bhadra BV – Phoenix Import, De Vesting 14, 7722 GA Dalfsen, The Netherlands, +31 38 42 35 510, info@phoeniximport.nl