Historical Significance of Colors

Violet/Purple

Historical Significance

• Widows used to wear purple to mourn their husbands' death in Thailand.
• To obtain one ounce of Tyrian purple dye, the Egyptian queen Cleopatra asked her servants to soak 20,000 purpura snails for 10 days.
• Richard Wagner composed his operas in room with violet shades; violet is his color of inspiration.
• Leonardo Da Vinci believed the power of meditation increases when done in violet or purple light (light of stained glass).
• A purple heart is a decoration for the soldiers killed or wounded in a battle by US Military.

Present Significance

• Purple is the royal color and is symbolic to luxury and sophistication.
• According to color theory the purple color in children's room can help improve their imagination.
• It is feminine and romantic.

Blue

Historical Significance

• The Pharaohs of Egypt used to wear blue for protection against evil.
• Blue is the color of mourning in Iran.
• In ancient Rome public servants used to wear blue.

Present Significance

• Blue relaxes the body, so it is often used in bed rooms.
• It symbolizes loyalty, hence wearing blue is recommended by experts for interviews.
• Studies show that weightlifters are able to handle heavier weights in blue gyms. This is because people are more productive in blue rooms.

Green

Historical Significance

• Green is the national color of Ireland.
• In Scotland, people used to wear green as a mark of honor.
• People in ancient Egypt used to color the floors of their temples green.
• In ancient Greece, green was symbolic to victory.
• Brides in the Middle Ages used to wear green to symbolize fertility.

Present Significance

• Green is the healing color and relaxes patients. Hence hospitals often use this color.
• It is a refreshing color and can improve vision.

Yellow

Historical Significance

• In Japan during the war of dynasty each warrior wore a yellow chrysanthemum as a pledge of courage.
• In Egypt and Burma yellow is the color of mourning.
• In India yellow is the divine color.
• In ancient France the doors of criminals were painted yellow.
• Actors of Middle Ages used to wear yellow to represent the dead in a play.

Present Significance

• Yellow enhances concentration and speeds up metabolism.
• People lose their tempers more often in yellow color rooms and it is the most difficult color for the eye to take in.

Red

Historical Significance

• Red was the color of House of Lancaster, which defeated the House of York (white color) in English war of the Roses.
• The soldiers of the Italian leader Garibaldi, who unified modern Italy, were called as the Red shirts.
• Red flag was the symbol for battle for ancient Romans.
• In China, red is the wedding and holiday color and also a color of good luck.
• Ancient Egyptians used to paint their body with red dye for emphasis.
• The Bolsheviks used red flag as their symbol in 19th century when they overthrew the czar.
• Red is the color of mourning in South Africa.

Present Significance

• Red is the color of love.
• It is the most emotionally intense color.
• It stimulates faster heartbeat and breathing.

Black

Historical Significance

• In ancient Egypt people used to believe that black cats had divine powers.
• Black was the color of mourning for ancient Romans and Egyptians.
• The security troops in Hitler's German army were known as black shirts.

Present Significance

• Black is the color of authority.
• It implies submission; hence priests wear black to signify submission to God.
• It makes people appear thinner for which it became popular color in fashion.

White

Historical Significance

• White is the color of mourning in China and Japan.
• The people of ancient Persia used to believe that all Gods wore white.
• The Egyptian Pharaohs used to wear white crowns.
• White flag is the universal symbol for truce.
• The ancient Greeks used to wear white cloths to bed to get pleasant dreams.

Present Significance

• White reflects light, so people wear white in summer.
• Brides wear white to symbolize innocence and purity; it is considered as good luck to be married in white clothes.
• White goes well with most colors, so became popular in fashion.
• Doctors and nurses wear white to symbolize sterility.