Spartan Ptah Crimson

Greek Spartiátēs, of Sparta — adjectival suffix referring to the Lacedaemonian warrior city. As a color modifier, spartan implies a saturated-and-disciplined-and-formal quality, the deep-rich color of Spartan-hoplite military-class crimson-and-bronze armor-and-cloak. Sits at the bold-and-formal end of the grid, parallel to austere and stern in tone.

Egyptian Ptah, Memphis-creator-god. As a color modifier, ptah implies a Memphis-creator-and-craftsman-god quality, the visual register of Egyptian-Ptah-and-Memphis-temple hand-Memphis-creator-and-craftsman-god Egyptian-Ptah-and-Memphis-temple-and-Apis-bull ptah-and-Memphis-creator-and-craftsman-god surfaces under Egyptian-Ptah-and-Memphis-temple-and-Apis-bull Memphis-Saqqara-and-craftsman-workshop creator-craftsman-light. Sits at the modifier-and-myth end of the grid, parallel to thoth and isis in usage.

From the Old Spanish cremesin, itself from the Arabic qirmiz — the kermes scale insect, dried and ground into a brilliant carmine dye prized in the medieval Mediterranean. For centuries the most expensive red on a draper's shelf, reserved for cardinals, kings, and the cloth that gave English the word crimson. Cooler than scarlet, deeper than rose; the color of pomegranate seeds and a serious occasion.