Yellow is a bright, cheerful colour that elicits feelings of happiness and positivity. The colour was used predominantly in ancient art and is sacred in many religions. Let’s take a look at the history and meaning of the colour yellow.
Facts About the Colour Yellow
Here are some facts about the colour yellow:
- Taxis and school buses are yellow because the colour is highly visible.
- Yellow is considered a lucky colour in China.
- The word “yellow” comes from the Old English term for yellow, “geolu.”
- Yellowtail is a specific fish species that has a yellow tail or body.
The History of the Colour Yellow
Yellow is one of the oldest colours in history, seen in cave paintings over 17,000 years old. The yellow pigment from ochre was readily available in prehistoric times and one of the first pigments used in cave art. Yellow is also a common colour in paintings from Ancient Rome and Egypt, where it was used to depict skin colour.
Renaissance and Medieval artists used “Indian yellow” — a pigment obtained when a cow eats only mango leaves. This colour was used to show a person as an outsider, especially Judas Iscariot from the Bible.
What Is the Meaning of the Colour Yellow?
In ancient religions, yellow was a sacred colour. Yellow, like gold, was seen as eternal, imperishable and indestructible. Many religions worshipped the sun, and the sun gods were depicted wearing yellow. The Ancient Egyptians believed the gods had gold skin and bones and used yellow for their skin tone in art. Yellow is also an important colour in Buddhism, signifying humility.
