Colors in Ancient Greek
Post by Diachronix » Wed Dec 11, 2019 6:47 am

I've attempted to put together an Ancient Greek color palette (see image reference), which I realize can never be totally precise and is likely a mixed bag of anachronisms. I've already received some great advice on another forum. So I thought I'd cross-post it here to share and hopefully get more advice/feedback.

I've based my color choices off of various definitions and descriptions from different sources. Here's the general framework that I'm working around. All adjectival forms are neuter à la Modern Greek (matching with τὸ χρῶμα).

Here are my 2 ultimate goals with this little project:

1 - Come up with specific colors (or color spectra) that represent (with a reasonable degree of accuracy/objectivity) the descriptions we encounter in Greek texts in order to visualize (with a reasonable degree of accuracy/objectivity) what various authors had in mind (without consideration for symbolism and metaphor).

2 - Be able to label colors (or color spectra) in the real world (with a reasonable degree of accuracy/objectivity) using the available Ancient Greek terms in a way that might comport with how an ancient would label them, hypothetically.

Here's my main reference (aside from various lexicons), which I footnote: http://imbs.uci.edu/~kjameson/ECST/Warbuton_AncientColorCategories.pdf

https://www.textkit.com/greek-latin-forum/viewtopic.php?t=69756

The Murex color we get out of our local "Sea Hares" is deep magenta/purple in tone:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/purple-sea-slugs-surprise-beachgoers-northern-california/story?id=31799791

These could make a purple dye.

The real shellfish that were used for Tyrian purple have vanished:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/05/ancient-shellfish-red-mouthed-rock-shell-purple-dye-vanishes-eastern-med

Just for reference:
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/cibas/ciba9.html

Crimson color guides Spartan based on Kermes dye:

https://simplicable.com/new/crimson-color


Kermes crimson:
https://earlychurchhistory.org/fashion/colors-dyes-for-clothing-in-ancient-rome/