Which Colour Is Known as the King of Colours?

Jan 9, 2026, 16:42 IST

Purple is known as the King of Colours because of its historical association with royalty, power, luxury, and authority, dating back to ancient civilisations where it was reserved exclusively for kings and nobility.

King of Colours: Purple is known as the King of Colours because it has been historically associated with royalty, power, wealth, authority, and luxury. In ancient times, purple dye was extremely rare and expensive, making it a colour reserved only for kings, queens, emperors, and nobility, which earned it the title King of Colours.

Why Is Purple Called the King of Colours?

Purple is called the King of Colours because its production was once limited to rare natural dyes extracted from sea snails, making it more valuable than gold in many ancient civilisations. Only rulers and elites could afford purple garments, and laws in some empires even restricted its use exclusively to royalty.

Origin of the Title King of Colours

The title 'King of Colours' originated in ancient civilisations such as Rome, Greece, and Phoenicia, where purple symbolised supreme authority and divine power. The colour became a visual marker of kingship and status, and over time, its symbolic meaning as the most powerful colour became universally accepted.

king of colours

Historical Significance of Purple

Purple has been worn by Roman emperors, Byzantine rulers, and European monarchs for centuries. Royal robes, crowns, flags, and ceremonial clothing frequently used purple to represent sovereignty, dignity, and control, reinforcing its royal identity.

Cultural and Symbolic Meaning of Purple

Purple represents power, wisdom, ambition, luxury, spirituality, and creativity. In many cultures, it is also associated with sacred rituals, nobility, and higher consciousness, further strengthening its status as the most dominant and respected colour.

Use of Purple in Modern Times

Today, purple continues to symbolise prestige and leadership. It is widely used in branding, national flags, religious ceremonies, academic regalia, and luxury products to convey authority, exclusivity, and excellence.

Psychological Impact of Purple

Psychologically, purple stimulates imagination, inspiration, and confidence. It is often linked with ambition, confidence, and emotional balance, making it a colour that commands respect and attention.

purple

Interesting Facts About Purple

Most Expensive Colour in Ancient History

Purple dye was once more valuable than gold, and its production required thousands of sea snails, making it inaccessible to common people.

Reserved for Royalty by Law

In ancient Rome and Byzantium, laws prohibited ordinary citizens from wearing purple, reinforcing its exclusive royal status.

Symbol of Power Across Civilizations

From ancient Rome to medieval Europe, purple consistently symbolised authority, empire and divine right to rule.

Associated With Spirituality and Wisdom

Purple is often linked with spiritual growth, meditation and higher awareness, adding depth to its royal symbolism.

Still Used to Represent Prestige Today

Modern institutions, universities, and luxury brands continue to use purple to represent excellence and authority.

Read more: Which Ocean Is Known as the King of Oceans?

Purple is known as the King of Colours because of its deep historical connection with royalty, power, luxury, and authority. From ancient empires to modern symbolism, purple has remained the colour of kingship, dominance and prestige. Keep reading for more such topics.

Jasreet Kaur
Jasreet Kaur

Content Writer

Jasreet Kaur is a journalist with over two years of experience and a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication. Driven and committed, she writes on current affairs and general knowledge, fueled by a desire to see positive growth in organizations, society, and the world.

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