Noble Athens Crimson

Latin nōbilis, well-known / illustrious — sharing root with gnōscere (to know). As a color modifier, noble implies a saturated-and-dignified-and-aristocratic quality, the deep-rich color of pre-modern European noble-class hereditary-aristocratic livery-and-armorial bearings. Sits at the bold-and-aristocratic end of the grid, parallel to aristocratic and highborn in usage.

Greek Ἀθῆναι, Athens. As a color modifier, athens implies an Acropolis-and-philosophical-city-state quality, the visual register of Athenian-Classical-City-State hand-built Acropolis-and-Parthenon-and-marble-temple-and-pottery Doric-and-Ionic-and-Corinthian surfaces under Athenian-Acropolis-and-Parthenon classical Aegean-marble-temple light. Sits at the modifier-and-cultural end of the grid, parallel to sparta and greek 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.