Egypt Blue Symbolism

The color blue (irtiu and khesbedj) in ancient Egypt represented the color of royalty. Egyptian jewelry and regalia was usually blue and gold. Synthetic pigments were used to produce dyes and pigments. Blue is associated with the sky, water, prime-evil waters and the heavens. It signified the Nile River and all of it’s associated offerings, fertility, and crops. The inundation of the Nile which was an annual reminder or re-enactment of the watery origins of the world. The annual flood of the Nile was symbolic of life and rebirth bringing fertility to the land. Blue also symbolized things that were eternal, imperishable, and indestructible.
In ancient Egypt, there was no basic color term for "blue". Lapis lazuli was called hsbdj, and then the term was extended to mean, secondarily, the color "blue”. Gods were depicted with blue hair made from the blue stone lapis lazuli. Lapis lazuli symbolized good luck and fertility. Blue stones used by Egyptians include lapis lazuli, turquoise, blue glass, and faience. Glass faience was not only used to make amulets and jewelry, but it was also used to make funerary equipment, ankhs, and scepters. Egyptian blue was …show more content…
It has been linked to intellect and consciousness. In marketing it is used to promote cleanliness. An example of this is the use of blue for cleaning liquids like Windex or Ajax. Beverage companies use it to promote water such as Smartwater and Aquafina. Blue is known to create trust and security in a brand a perfect example of this is Facebook. Ancient Egyptians use of the color blue is similar to that in present day because it symbolizes some of the same things like water, heavens, and the sky. Blue has different distinctions as referenced above in western cultures the act of “singing the blues” is far different then the precious blue stones used in Egypt. It however, has always been a color of masculinity and power in both