Purple is an eye-catching, mysterious, and unique color that has been associated with royalty, spirituality, creativity, and more throughout history. Some key things that make purple a really cool and interesting color include:
The Origins of Purple
Purple has long been considered a precious, rare, and expensive color because in ancient times it was very difficult to produce. The dye used to create the color purple originated from a specific type of sea snail called murex. Thousands of these tiny sea snails had to be gathered to yield just a small amount of purple dye. As a result, the color was primarily worn by royalty and the upper classes as a status symbol. The rarity and cost of purple cloth gave rise to phrases like “born to the purple” to refer to imperial offspring and wearing purple signified great wealth and prestige.
Purple dye played an important role in many ancient civilizations around the Mediterranean including the Phoenicians, Minoans, Greeks, and eventually the Romans. Legend has it that the Phoenician trading city of Tyre was the first to discover and produce purple dye using the murex sea snails. The secret to the process and the dye’s origin helped build and maintain the wealth of Tyre as the color remained elusive to others for centuries. Over time as methods for synthesizing purple spread, imperial classes outside of Tyre also adopted purple garments as a status symbol. Because purple fabric was directly tied to status and power in many ancient civilizations, it has maintained an air of luxury and royalty throughout history.
Symbolism and Meaning
Purple has many rich and varied symbolic associations that span history and cultures. Here are some of the main symbolic meanings behind the color purple:
- Royalty and luxury – As mentioned, the rarity and expense of purple dye gave rise to its use among early nobility and it maintains associations with extravagance.
- Magic and mystery – The reddish-blue tones create an unconventional color that has an air of mystique and intrigue.
- Creativity and individuality – Purple has artistic connotations and is associated with free thinkers and creative/eccentric individuals.
- Ambiguity – Purple is the combination of passionate red and calm blue, so it represents a balance of contradictory emotions.
- Spirituality – In many religions, purple represents sacredness and spiritual fulfillment. It is used in rituals across faiths.
- Wisdom and dignity – Dark shades of purple suggest wisdom from experience and dignity with age.
Purple continues to have magical, unconventional connotations as well as regal implications in today’s color meanings and symbolism. It has maintained an air of extravagance and individuality while also being incorporated into spiritual rituals and representing wisdom.
Properties and Psychology
The unique properties and psychology behind the color purple also contribute to its cool appeal:
- Nonconformist – Purple has rebellious and nonconformist undertones because it combines fiery red with tranquil blue.
- Androgyny – Purple contains both masculine red and feminine blue and so represents a balance between the two.
- Contradictions – Its mix of warm and cool tones creates ambiguity. Purple can appear futuristic yet classic, flashy or subdued.
- Transformative – Purple pairs contrasting colors and has transitional qualities, so it is seen as transformative and empowering.
- Complex – The paradoxes and richness of purple makes it seem complex and multi-dimensional.
So while purple can be perceived as frivolous because of its use among aristocracy, it also contains many layers. It balances different moods and qualities in its shade, making it a thoughtful and dimensional color.
Shades and Variations
There are an endless number of purple tones and shades, each with their own cool vibe. Some notable purple shades include:
| Purple Shade | Personality & Uses |
|---|---|
| Lavender | Soft, romantic, feminine |
| Lilac | Playful, vintage, nostalgic |
| Wisteria | Vibrant, eccentric, mystical |
| Eggplant | Rich, elegant, luxurious |
| Mauve | Retro, relaxed, soothing |
| Orchid | Delicate, artistic, creative |
The vibrancy level, tones, and balance of pink or blue undertones all affect the mood and feel of different purple shades. Deeper plummy purples like eggplant convey luxury while soft lilacs are nostalgic and romantic. Vibrant purples like wisteria are more dramatic and mystical. There are playful, indulgent, moody, and romantic variations of purple to explore.
Creativity and Individuality
Creatives and innovators have often been attracted to the color purple because it represents originality and nonconformity. Purple contains the passion and stimulation of red and the calm intuition of blue, blending both logic and emotions. Some pioneering figures who have embraced the color purple include:
- Leonardo da Vinci – Wore purple robes while working in his studio to inspire creativity and free thinking.
- Emperor Nero – Had a passion for purple and made it the official color of Rome and its imperial leadership.
- Prince – Called himself “His Purple Majesty” and purple was his signature color that represented his music and persona.
- David Bowie – Had a purple lightning bolt on his iconic Aladdin Sane album cover and frequently wore purple on stage.
Creatives are often drawn to purple because it represents imagination, originality, and visionary thinking. It has an unconventional vibe that inspires innovation.
Notable Uses and Pop Culture
The color purple has made many noteworthy appearances across artistic mediums. Some cool and memorable uses of purple in pop culture include:
- Alice in Wonderland – The Cheshire Cat who guides Alice is brightly purple and mysterious.
- Cadbury Chocolate – Uses regal shades of purple for its packaging and branding.
- Nobel Prize – The prestigious Nobel medal and diploma feature purple hues.
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Willy Wonka has a purple suit and purple items appear throughout the story.
- Hallmark Crown Logo – Hallmark’s iconic crown logo is purple, representing magic and emotion.
- New York University – NYU uses purple as an official school color to represent academia.
From magical characters like Willy Wonka to the royal crown of Hallmark, purple has been embraced across pop culture for its unique vibe and cool appeal.
Conclusion
Purple is a captivating color with a rich history tied to royalty and artistic expression. The rarity of early purple dyes gave it an air of prestige that still lingers in its luxury and first-class connotations today. Purple also symbolizes magic, mysticism, spirituality, creativity, wisdom, and contradiction. These layered meanings along with its mix of warm and cool undertones make purple a multidimensional hue. Purple’s blend of the passionate and tranquil has attracted innovators throughout history who want to channel both emotion and introspection. Shades range from romantic lighter purples to sophisticated deeper eggplant purples, making it a versatile color. Whether it is the childhood nostalgia of a lilac field, the gothic moodiness of a deep plum, or the extravagance of imperial robes, purple is a cool color with many facets to explore.
