Praetorian Vesta Crimson

Latin praetōriānus, of the praetor — adjectival suffix, referring to the Roman-Imperial elite guard-cohorts. As a color modifier, praetorian implies a saturated-and-elite-and-imperial-guard quality, the deep-rich color of Roman-Praetorian-Guard elite-imperial-bodyguard scarlet-tunic-and-bronze-armor military-formation. Sits at the bold-and-formal end of the grid, parallel to spartan and imperial.

Latin Vesta, Roman-goddess-of-hearth. As a color modifier, vesta implies an asteroid-and-hearth-flame-and-bright-and-rocky quality, the visual register of Vesta-asteroid-and-Roman-hearth hand-asteroid-and-hearth-flame-and-bright Vesta-asteroid-and-Roman-hearth-and-Dawn-mission vesta-and-asteroid-and-hearth-flame-and-bright surfaces under Vesta-asteroid-and-Roman-hearth-and-Dawn-mission asteroid-belt-and-Vestal-Temple sacred-flame-light. Sits at the modifier-and-cosmic end of the grid, parallel to ceres and juno 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.