Symbolism of the color red in antiquity

Red is supposedly the first color percieved by Man. Brain-injured persons suffering from temporary color-blindness start to perceive red before they are able to discern any other colors. Neolithic hunter peoples considered red to be the most important color endowed with life-giving powers and thus placed red ochre into graves of their deceased. This explains funds of skeletons embedded in up to 10 kg of red powdered ochre. Neolithic cave painters ascribed magic powers to the color red. The word "magic" ("Zauber" in German) translates to "taufr" in Old Norse and is related to the Anglo-Saxon "teafor" meaning "red ochre". It can be stipulated that they painted animals in red ochre or iron oxide to conjure their fertility.

Protective powers of the color red against evil influence were common belief. Objects, animals and trees were covered in red paint, warriors painted their axes and spear-catapults red to endow the weapons with magic powers. Some of the Australian aborigines abide by this custom up to the present times. Neolithic hunters and germanic warriors used to paint their weapons and even themselves in blood of slain animals. Roman gladiators drank blood of their dying adversaries to take over their strength. In other cultures, the newly born were bathed in blood of particularly strong and good looking animals.Red painted amulettes or red gems, such as ruby or garnet, were used as charms against the "evil eye". Wearing a red ruby was supposed to bring about invincibility. Red bed-clothes were customary in Germany up to the Middle Ages as protection against the "red illnesses", such as fever, rashes or even miscarriages.

Red garlands and red scarfs were part of wedding customs in many cultures. Red wedding gown was en vogue in Nurnberg of the 18th century, but this tradition goes back to roman times: Roman brides were wrapped in a fiery red veil, the flammeum, which should warrant love and fertility. Greek, Albanian and Armenian brides wear red veils even today. Chinese brides are wearing red wedding gowns and are carried to the ceremony in a red litter. The bride walks on a red carpet and is greeted by the groom who lifts her red veil. Neighbours bring red eggs to the couple after a child is born.

Red rose is the symbol of love and fidelity. According to the Greek legend red roses arised from blood of Adonis who was killed by a wild boar on a hunt. In Greek mythology red rose was a symbol for the cycle of growth and decay, but also for love and affinity. Red rose is dedicated to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and daughter of Zeus and also to Roman goddess Venus.

There are also negative connotations of this color. Israelites in biblical times painted their doorframes in red blood to scare demons. Red in ancient Egypt was the color of the desert and of the destructive god Seth who inpersonated the Evil. "Making red" was synonymous with killing someone, evil doings were refered to as "red affairs". Salvation from Evil is the subject of an ancient Egyptian charm: "Oh, Isis, deliver me from the hands of all bad, evil, red things!" Writers of Egyptian papyri used a special red ink for nasty words.

IceNine said:

You're welcome...that's very pretty, Ice!

All of them. My favorite changes depending on what year it is. As a kid it was green. Right now, it's white and blue.

Boob said:

Boob! You plagiarized that!

http://webexhibits.org/pi...reds2.html

Next thing you're gonna tell is me is that you have a fake boob!

Burgundy,gold,purple,and yes even black and white

purple and black together or . . . purple and red together

green
the
color
of
life

Purple is my Favorite color.

BLUE PURPLE AND GOLD

white.

it's the color of a canvas or a piece of paper, so u can put any color on it u wanna.

Black & green

Peppermint!

oooh i love me some colors



Blue/yellow/green/red/white...and orange in honor of moonbeam

Blue and Red

Black, White, and Indigo Blue

purple, green, and gold.

Pink and Black
Red and Black
Orange and Black
Lime Green

"Sheila E. Blue/Green"

What else? PURPLE!

Black
Olive Green or lime green or any green really I (L) green.
Brown
Orange

I hate pastels, so there.

Im a redhead, so anything in the earthy category...or black works good

(L)
vi

Green, purple and silver.

Black, White and Purple

lavender, blue, and silver.

cerulean
emerald and luna green
charcoal

Charcoal Grey
Blue
Black

nice shades of Orange
Yellow sometimes

folks say I should wear more Red, it suits me (the very color I have least of)

Pink can be amazing but frequently sucks

Why do I like this Q???

bah humbug! I hate color!

royal blue...and white (on full-figured
women who wear tight sweaters)

Boob said:

I like it how Boob tries to come off as all philisophical and shit and at the end her signature says "Wanna lick my majik nipple?"

RED,BLACK AND WHITE AS PRIMARY, THEN LAVENDER (PURPLE), NAVY BLUE, AND KHAKI AS SECONDARY