Changes

Red is supposedly the first color perceived by humans. Brain-injured persons suffering from temporary [[color-blindness]] start to perceive red before they are able to discern any other colors.<ref>http://www.tcrwf.org/PDF/April-2006-Newsletter.pdf</ref> [[Neolithic]] hunter peoples considered red to be the most important color endowed with life-giving powers and thus placed red [[ocher]] into graves of their deceased. This explains funds of [[skeleton]]s embedded in up to 10 kg of red powdered ocher. Neolithic cave painters ascribed [[magic]] powers to the color red. It can be stipulated that they painted [[animal]]s in red ocher or [[iron oxide]] to conjure their fertility.

Red is supposedly the first color perceived by humans. Brain-injured persons suffering from temporary [[color-blindness]] start to perceive red before they are able to discern any other colors.<ref>http://www.tcrwf.org/PDF/April-2006-Newsletter.pdf</ref> [[Neolithic]] hunter peoples considered red to be the most important color endowed with life-giving powers and thus placed red [[ocher]] into graves of their deceased. This explains funds of [[skeleton]]s embedded in up to 10 kg of red powdered ocher. Neolithic cave painters ascribed [[magic]] powers to the color red. It can be stipulated that they painted [[animal]]s in red ocher or [[iron oxide]] to conjure their fertility.

Protective powers of the color red against evil influence were common belief. Objects, animals and trees were covered in red paint, and warriors painted their axes and spear-catapults red to endow the weapons with magic powers. Some of the Australian aborigines abide by this custom up to the present times. Neolithic hunters and Germanic warriors used to paint their weapons and even themselves in blood of slain animals. Roman gladiators drank blood of their dying adversaries to take over their strength. In other cultures, the newly born were bathed in blood of particularly strong and good looking animals.[[image:VanEyck.jpg‎|'''''Arnolfini Wedding'' by Jan Van Eyck 1434'''|center|300px]]Red painted amulets or red gems, such as ruby or garnet, were used as charms against the "evil eye". Wearing a red ruby was supposed to bring about invincibility. Red bed-clothes were customary in Germany up to the Middle Ages as protection against the "red illnesses", such as fever, rashes or even miscarriages (famous example is the painting Arnolfini Wedding by Jan Van Eyck, dated 1434).<ref>http://webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/color/reds2.html</ref>

Protective powers of the color red against evil influence were common belief. Objects, animals and trees were covered in red paint, and warriors painted their axes and spear-catapults red to endow the weapons with magic powers. Some of the Australian aborigines abide by this custom up to the present times. Neolithic hunters and Germanic warriors used to paint their weapons and even themselves in blood of slain animals. Roman gladiators drank blood of their dying adversaries to take over their strength. In other cultures, the newly born were bathed in blood of particularly strong and good looking animals.[[image:VanEyck.jpg‎|'''''Arnolfini Wedding'' by Jan Van Eyck 1434'''|center|300px]]Red painted amulets or red [[gems]], such as [[ruby]] or [[garnet]], were used as charms against the "evil eye". Wearing a red ruby was supposed to bring about invincibility. Red bed-clothes were customary in Germany up to the Middle Ages as protection against the "red illnesses", such as fever, rashes or even miscarriages (famous example is the painting Arnolfini Wedding by Jan Van Eyck, dated 1434).<ref>http://webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/color/reds2.html</ref>

In [[politics]], red has become the color associated with the [[Republican]] Party since its use by the TV networks on their electoral maps for states won by George W. Bush during the presidential election of 2000.  

In [[politics]], red has become the color associated with the [[Republican]] Party since its use by the TV networks on their electoral maps for states won by George W. Bush during the presidential election of 2000.