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Red is supposedly the first color perceived 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 (famous example is the painting Arnolfini Wedding by Jan Van Eyck, dated 1434).

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. In Christianity the red rose is associated with the Cross and the bloodshed.

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.

Good and bad qualities are combined in Phoenix, the firebird. In Egypt, China and Central America it was associated with cleansing and revival. In China its name was the "Vermilion Bird" or the Substance of Fire" and promised luck and longevity.

By the way in China there are more than 30 single characters to describe various shades of red. The Chinese are passionate about the color

2006-08-14 03:06:00 · answer #1 · answered by jerdan95 3 · 0 0

Red colour represent colour of heart.Heart is full of love.

2006-08-14 10:03:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

how did the color blue come to represent sadness and depression?

2006-08-14 10:02:11 · answer #3 · answered by ace 3 · 0 0

From fire and passion. Fire is red and it never burns out, (Unless forced upon). Passion is what keeps it going.

2006-08-14 10:00:05 · answer #4 · answered by otter7 5 · 0 0

Because it is the color of your Heart. :)

2006-08-14 10:00:14 · answer #5 · answered by Cait 5 · 0 0

represents passion.

2006-08-14 10:03:48 · answer #6 · answered by lol 6 · 0 0

i guess cuz our heart is red..

2006-08-14 10:01:07 · answer #7 · answered by peanut butter cup 2 · 0 0

Dunno. But who decided Lt. blue is for baby boy and pink is for baby girl?

2006-08-14 10:02:25 · answer #8 · answered by nakedandsucking 4 · 0 0

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