Valiant Greek Crimson

Latin valēns, strong — present-participle of valēre, sharing root with English value and valor. As a color modifier, valiant implies a saturated-and-courageous-and-firm quality, the deep-rich color of Crusader-and-Knight-Templar military-religious-order vestment. Sits at the bold-and-chivalrous end of the grid, parallel to gallant and heroic in usage.

Latin Graecus, of-Greece. As a color modifier, greek implies a classical-and-marble-and-blue-sea quality, the visual register of Athens-and-Aegean classical-Hellenic temple-and-pottery hand-built marble-and-sea-blue surfaces under Greek-Aegean classical-temple Mediterranean light. Sits at the modifier-and-cultural end of the grid, parallel to roman and hellenic 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.