It can also represent magic, extravagance, peace, pride, independence, and wealth.
Like other colors, purple can lead to differing feelings, emotions, and associations.
Click below to listen now.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Purple Meaning in History
The feelings that the color purple evokes are often due tocultural associations.
Because purple is so strongly associated with royalty, people often perceive it as being a very regal color.
So only the elite could use purple dye.
These associations with extravagance and aristocracy persist to this day.
Alexander the Great and the kings of Egypt also wore clothing colored with the famous Tyrian purple.
This connection with royalty was not just restricted to ancient times.
Within theLGBTQ+ community, the purple on thepride flagrepresents non-binary gender identities.
In the bisexual flag, the red and blue overlap to form purple, representing bisexuality.
Different shades of purple have different spiritual meanings.
In some parts of Europe, purple is associated withdeath and mourning.
The color representscourage and bravery.
You might alsoenjoy thinking about spiritual issuesand the meaning of life.
For this reason, it tends to be quite a polarizing color.
People tend to either really love purple or really hate it.
Visually, purple is one of the most difficult colors to discriminate.
That means that everyone’sperception and interpretationof the color purple can be different.
Keep in Mind
Responses to the color purple can vary considerably from one person to the next.
However, many feel that this color seems royal yet mysterious.
Notice how purple is used in the image that accompanies this article.
Consider how the color purple makes you feel.
Do you associate purple with certain qualities or situations?
Recognizing howyouinterpret purple’s meaning helps you understand why you may respond to it in a certain way.
Kurt S, Osueke KK.The effects of color on the moods of college students.SAGE Open.
2014;4(1):215824401452542. doi:10.1177/2158244014525423
University of Chicago Library.Tyrian purple.
Schultz C.In ancient Rome, purple dye was made from snails.Smithsonian Magazine.
The Royal Household.50 facts about the Queen’s coronation.
Canva.Color meaning and symbolism: How to use the power of color.
London Image Institute.Why is it important to understand color psychology?
Britannica.Purple Heart: United States military decoration.
Heller E.Psychologie de la couleur: effets et symboliques.