Results: BLACK. part 2

Black was one of the first colors used in art. The Lascaux Cave in France contains pictures drawn by paleolithic artists 18,000 years ago. They began by using charcoal, and later achieved even darker pigments by burning bones or grinding a powder of manganese oxide...... Have you been to The Lascaux Cave in France?

For the ancient Egyptians, black had positive associations. It was the color of fertility and the rich black soil flooded by the Nile. It was also the color of Anubis, the friendly god of the underworld, who guided and protected the spirits of the dead........ Have you been to Egypt?

In Norse mythology, the world of the dead was ruled by the goddess Hel. When people died from illness or old age they were brought to Hel instead of Valhalla, where souls of the people who died in battle went. Hel would then judge them to their fate. Pictured: Hel with Garmr, a blood-stained wolf-dog, the Guardian of Hel's gate....... Did you know someone who have died in battle?

To ancient Greeks black represented the underworld separated from the world of the living by the river Acheron; it's waters ran black ...... Cerberus (Greek: Kérberos) the multi-headed dog guarded the gates of the underworld to prevent the dead from leaving....... Do you own a ferocious guard dog? (beware, this is the attention-check question ;-)

Black was the most important color used by ancient Greeks. In the 6th century BC, they began making black-figure pottery using an original technique. The artist would paint figures with a glossy clay slip on a clay pot. When the pot was fired, the figures would turn black. Later on they reversed the process, which resulted in red figures against a black background. Pictured: amphora by Exekias, Achilles and Ajax engaged in a game, 540–530 BC...... Have you been to Greece?

In ancient Rome black was worn by craftsmen and artisans. The blacks they wore were not deep and rich. The vegetable dyes were not lasting, so the blacks faded to gray or brown....... Do you like wearing black clothes?