Color and cults in ethnopsychology

In many ways, the similar nature of color symbolism we find in the ancient peoples of the Middle East, Central Asia and Egypt.

One of the most common cults among the peoples who lived in these territories was the cult of the sun, light, and also the closest similarity of the sun - fire (Zoroastrianism). As in ancient India, the sun was worshiped by the supreme deity, the source of life and good. Therefore, the attitude to this or that color depended on how “sunny” it was - bright and bright. The colors most similar to sunlight were white and gold (yellow). Therefore, these colors were considered divine. They were flowers of gods, sacred animals, priests, etc.

Sacred color revered and red. In Egypt, the red lotus was a symbol of blood shed by Osiris. As in China, this color was considered the color of the noble class, warriors, kings. However, the attitude to the red was not unambiguous. For the Old Testament Jews, red meant bloodshed, war, guilt and sin.
Red symbolized the wrath of Jehovah. It should also be noted that the Hebrew word "feeling" or "passion" comes from the verb quin''h ("blush").

Osiris - the god of growth and the kingdom of the dead was depicted in green, which contains two opposing trends: life and death, i.e. is an ambivalent symbol. Green, was a favorite color combination of the ancient Egyptians: green - white - red.

An important symbolic meaning in ancient Egypt was blue or blue, corresponding to the truth (H. Bayley - 1912). In this regard, blue lapis lazuli was especially appreciated. The same color symbolized the sky - the dwelling of Ra (the supreme God of the Sun).

Black was considered the color of evil demons, the devil. As in other cultures, negative values ​​were usually attributed to him — evil, sin, unhappiness, etc.

Thus, the color symbolism of the peoples of the Middle East, Central Asia and Egypt did not have any significant peculiarities or differences compared to other peoples of the Ancient World. The color triad was dominant, and the meanings of its constituent colors are similar to those we already know. It may be noted a more pronounced ambivalence of red color (among ancient Jews), but not going beyond its traditional meanings.