Shielded Aztec Violet

Old English scild, shield — past-participle of shield, sharing root with German Schild. As a color modifier, shielded implies a saturated-and-protected-and-defensive quality, the deep-rich color of medieval-knight armorial-shield-and-coat-of-arms heraldic display. Sits at the bold-and-fortified end of the grid, parallel to armored and bastioned.

Nahuatl Aztēcatl, one-from-Aztlán. As a color modifier, aztec implies a Mexica-and-Tenochtitlan-Imperial quality, the visual register of Aztec-Empire-of-Tenochtitlan hand-built basalt-and-obsidian-and-feather-and-codex Aztec-Imperial-and-Mexica-tribute surfaces under high-altitude Tenochtitlan Aztec-Empire central-Mexico mid-altitude light. Sits at the modifier-and-cultural end of the grid, parallel to inca and toltec in usage.

Viola odorata, the European sweet violet — small, fragrant, and the original meaning of the color name in English (the Violet of the rainbow). The color refers to a fresh sweet violet blossom in late winter: a saturated, slightly red-shifted deep blue-purple with the matte finish of small five-petaled flower. Cooler than amethyst, warmer than indigo, with the perfumed weight of a flower used in Roman garlands and Victorian eau de toilette.