How Spanish conquistadors, and a tiny cactus-dwelling insect, gave the world the color red

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How Spanish conquistadors, and a tiny cactus-dwelling insect, gave the world the ****** red

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the

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. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such as

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have cemented our association of the ****** red with power and wealth.

But what if I told you this connection has been pervasive across time and cultures? In fact, the red pigment has fascinated humans for millennia.

Prickly pear blood

The vibrant red we often see in cosmetics, food and drinks is actually derived from a tiny insect called the cochineal, which lives on prickly pear cacti and today is

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from Peru and the Canary Islands. The cochineal’s ubiquitous crimson dye is also known as Carmine, Natural Red or

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.

The links between red and esteem and power can be traced back to the

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that flourished in the Andean region of South America from around 1400 to 1533.

Red carries profound symbolism in Inca mythology, intertwined with the legendary story of Mama Huaco—the inaugural warrior queen—who was often envisioned as emerging in a

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.

The historical journey of the cochineal mirrors the journeys of several other global staples—such as potatoes, chilli and tomatoes—

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from pre-Columbian Mexico and South America.

The cochineal insect was brought to Europe by Spanish conquistadors in the 15th century, and held a worth akin to gold and silver. It strengthened Spain’s economic influence, provided support for the Spanish empire’s expansion, and stimulated

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Cultivation and harvest were carried out by the Indigenous Mesoamerican peoples living under Spanish rule, who had already been doing this

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. They were

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while their labour allowed Spain to maintain its monopoly on the valuable red dye.

The king’s shoes

Before the conquistadors began the cochineal trade, achieving a rich red hue was a challenge, which meant ********* nobility had to use purple and blue instead.

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, the cochineal gained such popularity in Europe that it

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as the traditional ****** of the cardinals of the Roman ********* *******. This red was unmatched in vibrancy. Its depth and rarity eventually made it among the most expensive dyes of the time.

It became a prominent feature in

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—characterized by its intensity and drama. And its widespread uptake by ********* royalty further solidified its connection with power and wealth.

In France, King Louis XIV’s (1638-1715) penchant for red was evident in his lavish décor choices, which included 435 red beds in his palace at

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. He displayed red in the

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. He even instituted a law in 1673 restricting the coveted red heels to aristocrats who were granted permission by the monarch himself, effectively making them a hallmark of royal favor.

Spiritual significance

The ****** red holds significant spiritual symbolism across various religions. In Judeo-********** traditions, an

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between the Hebrew word for “man” (Adam), “red” and “blood,” all stemming from a common etymological root.

According to Biblical accounts, Adam, the first man, was formed from the Earth—and the ****** red could symbolize the richness of the soil or clay from which Adam was created. This interplay of language and symbolism underscores a profound interconnectedness between red and spiritual belief systems.

This spiritual significance reverberates across cultures. In

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, red is imbued with sacred meaning symbolizing fertility, purity and prosperity. In ******** culture, it is considered auspicious, and signifies joy and prosperity.

Red hues have also been viewed as a symbol of vitality

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, as they emulate blood, our life force. In

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, red is symbolic of martyrdom, the spirit and the blood of *******.

The ****** of champions

In terms of visibility, red has the

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. This might help explain our longstanding cross-cultural attraction to it: studies show it stimulates excitement and energy when viewed, which can cause physical effects such as an increased heart rate. It has even been shown to

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.

Psychologically, red seems to have more influence on humans compared with other colors in the spectrum. In an experiment at the 2004 Athens Olympics, athletes across four contact sports were randomly clad in either red or blue. Those who wore red were

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.

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English football teams over a 55-year ******* found wearing red shirts was associated with greater success on the field. That’s because red is linked to a heightened sense of determination and endurance, which can translate to better focus. From this angle, red seems to be the ****** of champions.

The “red carpet” tradition itself is thousands of years old. The

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to it comes from the ancient Greek play Agamemnon, written in 458 BCE, in which a red path (said to be reserved for the gods) is ***** out for King Agamemnon by his wife as he returns from the ******* war. The twist is that Clytemnestra seeks to lead him to his ******:

“Let all the ground be red / Where those feet pass; and Justice, dark of yore, / Home light him to the hearth he looks not for.”

This symbol has since morphed into the celebrity red carpet, graced by pop culture “royalty.”

Meanwhile, red also has also garnered some alarming associations in our everyday vernacular, with “red pills,” “red flags,” and “seeing red” being just a few examples.

This potent symbol continues to have diverse interpretations, representing not only achievement, but also the power—and sometimes the dangers—that come with it.

Provided by
The Conversation

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Citation:
How Spanish conquistadors, and a tiny cactus-dwelling insect, gave the world the ****** red (2024, March 28)
retrieved 28 March 2024
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