Color naming is one of the vocabulary groups that constantly attracts the attention of researchers. The names of tones and shades are considered by scientists from the point of view of semantic, historical, etymological and many other aspects. Researchers are also interested in the origin of the names of colors, among which red stands out. This is due to its brightness, symbolism and cultural richness.
History of the name
Modern Russian has about fifty lexemes that indicate different shades of red. One of the designations of this tone is porphyry. This noun appeared in Russia in the 11th century. This is confirmed by the Ostromir Gospel, dated 1057. In it, porphyry is purple and purple royal clothes.
Somewhat later, the lexical meaning of this word expanded. What else did the noun porphyry point to? This andpurple, and dark red valuable dye used in textile dyeing.
In terms of its color designation, the word "porphyry" is synonymous with the word "purple". It denotes a dark red, dark purple and red-violet hue. In ancient times, paint of this color was obtained from a certain type of mollusks.
Porphyry is a borrowed word. It came to Russian from Latin. In turn, the Romans borrowed this word from the Greeks in several meanings. This is a snail that gives purple, and purple paint, and dark red clothes or a mantle.
What does the word "porphyry" mean?
To answer this question, let's turn to the dictionary. According to his explanations, in modern Russian the word "porphyry" is called:
- purple, crimson or dark red color;
- genus of special red algae found in the seas of temperate climate zones;
- a long purple robe worn by monks only on special and solemn occasions;
- primordial rock, close to granite;
- dye dark red in various shades;
- purple fabric, which in the old days was intended for sewing outerwear for roy alty and other important persons.
Dye
The Phoenicians were the first to mine porphyry. From the bottom of the sea, they collected unprepossessing-looking small shells, each of which was crushed to obtain just a few drops of a thick liquid. It was a wonderful porphyry color. For a smalla vessel filled with such a liquid, weaving artisans gave a whole ingot of silver weighing 8.4 grams. The fabric was dyed with this dye, from which clothes were subsequently sewn. A denser composition of porphyry gave lilac shades, a more liquid one - scarlet colors. The porphyry dye extracted from sea shells was very persistent. Clothes, on the fabric of which he was present, could be washed at least every day without losing color. Military leaders, priests, princes and kings willingly bought such robes. This was due not only to the high quality of things, but also to the significant cost of fabrics, which have always been a luxury item.
Today, porphyry shells are no longer mined. Fabrics are dyed in this color with artificial dye. It turns out much easier, cheaper and better than the Phoenicians. Nevertheless, this people entered the history of mankind as the discoverer of the porphyry dye.
Robe
The first imperial porphyry in Russia was made in 1724 for the coronation of Catherine I. The weight of this robe was 60 kg. A special clasp was made for the mantle, which cost about a hundred thousand rubles.
Since then, in Russia, porphyry has become one of the regalia of power. This robe was like a long sleeveless cloak. The upper part of the mantle was decorated with a cape made of ermine fur, made in the form of a collar. On the back of the porphyry was an embroidered state coat of arms. Ermine was also framed by all the edges of the royal robe, the length of which with a train for the emperor was 5 m 67 cm, and for the empress - 4 m98 cm.
In earlier times, Byzantine porphyry in the form of a tunic was an invariable attribute of the rulers of the Roman state. The purple-colored mantle was the main difference among the Etruscan kings. In addition to emperors, such robes were worn by priests who predicted the future.
Rocks
Porphyry stone is of volcanic origin. This is a rock that contains a large inclusion of various minerals. Porphyry has a microcrystalline structure and is divided into quartz and non-quartz. This stone is used as a magnificent finishing, decorative and building material.
History of the breed
Egyptian craftsmen were among the first to use quartz porphyry. Moreover, in the art of manufacturing various products from this stone, they reached significant heights. Sarcophagi were built from porphyry. This stone was used for the manufacture of columns and statues, as well as various interior items. It is worth saying that all things of the ancient era, made of porphyry, are of great artistic value today. During the reign of the Egyptian pharaohs, this stone was considered a symbol of we alth and power. Porphyry was of the same value for the emperors of Europe and Ancient Rome. It is not surprising that all the kings and rulers wanted to own products made from this volcanic rock.
In Russia, valuable stone deposits were discovered in Altai, not far from the Korgon River. Happenedit's in the 18th century. Korgon porphyry was widely used in the construction of St. Petersburg. He went to carve sculptures and bas-reliefs that adorn buildings. Products made of porphyry were used in the design of luxurious mansions. Moreover, all interior items for Russian palaces were made by their own stone-cutting artisans, whose skill was famous throughout the world. And today you can admire rare specimens of porphyry bowls and vases made at the factories of Peterhof, the Urals and Altai by visiting the Hermitage. Some of these works have received awards at the World Exhibitions in Vienna, Paris and London. There are works by Russian stone-cutters in many museums of our planet.
In the 20th century, a large deposit of porphyry was discovered in northern Italy, in the region of Trento. Stone from these layers has found wide application in paving European roads.
Physical and mechanical characteristics
What properties does porphyry have? It is a stone with high wear-resistant characteristics. It behaves excellently in aggressive environments, showing resistance to various chemical agents. In addition, porphyry has excellent thermal insulation characteristics, which is very important for the climatic conditions of Russia. The stone resists abrasion, impact and scratches well. At the same time, it is durable and does not need special care.
In terms of its physical and mechanical properties, this material is similar to granite. Porphyry, in addition, even exceeds its strength by almost fifty percent. It is worth saying that, unlike granite, the stone of thisvolcanic rock never crumbles.
Interestingly, a very durable porphyry has a low specific gravity and high water absorption. This indicates its porous structure, which allows the stone to self-clean. Grease, oil or gasoline stains that appear on the porphyry disappear on their own after a while.
Building material from volcanic rocks is presented in a variety of colors. There are stones red and green, brown and yellow, gray and purple. There is such material and colorful colors.
Application of porphyry stone
Today, natural material of volcanic mountain origin is very popular in construction. Porphyry quartz is often used in urban and landscape architecture. The stone looks beautiful because of its magnificent natural texture, interesting natural pattern and the presence of a huge range of colors.
The decorative characteristics of porphyry are such that it is used for both outdoor and indoor use. Facades of houses are decorated with strong and durable stone, used for paving paths, terraces and sidewalks. Porphyry decorates the steps of the stairs. They even just delimit the space, which looks very impressive.
Porphyry is also often used to finish pools. Tiles made from this stone have a rough surface, which eliminates the possibility of slipping.
Hard and durable natural stone looks great as borders for flower beds and sidewalks. It is convenient for them to lay surfaces that havea big slope.
Rooms look rich and modern, in the interior decoration of which the designer used porphyry. This stone, amazing in its beauty, is used for walls, floors, fireplaces, window sills. Such a building material is a guarantee of the high quality of work performed even in the most complex projects.
Red algae
An amazing plant lives in the waters of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, as well as in the oceanic coastal zones of Asia. It looks like a leaf or a wide brown plate with torn edges. This plant is called "porphyry". The seaweed is also known as red sea lettuce. Porphyry got its unusual color thanks to such substances as phycocyanin, phycoarythrin and chlorophyll. An unusual combination and gives the plant such an interesting pigmentation. Sometimes there are brownish, pink-red or even bluish porphyry plates.
For a long time, seaweed has been used by people as food. These plants also serve as pet food.
Porphyry is still highly valued by the people of Japan and China. Algae for the population of these countries is a cult food, and its use is equated to a ritual. As for the inhabitants of European countries, they have not tasted this red sea lettuce, using it only for feed purposes, which is a pity, because this is a product rich in protein and vitamins A, D, C, B1, B2 and B12.
Red algae (porphyra) are widely used in cookingLand of the Rising Sun. Its inhabitants call this plant nori. This type of porphyry, which grows near the coast of Japan, smells like cabbage, and tastes like spinach. These sea leaves are loved for their beneficial properties and ease of use. Nori is used as a side dish and for making sushi. The Japanese prefer to eat these algae with rice, and also add them to soups and salads. Chopped or crushed porphyry leaves are used to decorate noodle dishes and mixed sushi. Nori seaweed is loved for its smoky flavor and subtle oceanic scent.
Porfira Company
To a modern person who appreciates good taste, such phrases as Italian shoes and German cars, Swiss watches and French perfumes have already become familiar. All these products belong to the premium class and are produced by already well-known brands. However, popularity does not come overnight. And the one who today is the flagship in the production of a particular product has a long, sometimes even centuries-old history of its development.
However, in the world of popular brands, new stars are constantly being lit. One of them was the firm "Porfira". It is located in Belarus, a country with rich traditions in the production of various goods, and a special, very responsible attitude to work. Today, in the expanses of the former USSR, goods made in Belarus are highly quoted. Whether it's food or cosmetics, women's clothing or shoes, the phrase "Made in Belarus" is a kind of guarantor of quality.
What products does Porfira produce? Women's clothing is her main focus. Fashion models combine the best practices of the Belarusian light industry and the design school. They are produced using only the most modern technologies.
Four times a year Porfira presents new collections to its customers. European-inspired clothing for women is characterized by excellent fit and high quality tailoring.
Women's clothing produced by Porfira is conducive to reincarnation. The representatives of the beautiful half of humanity can only choose impeccable minimalism or extravagant ethno, always up-to-date classics or bohemian chic. But be that as it may, in clothes from the Belarusian manufacturer, a woman will certainly feel inimitable. All models of the presented collections are not those nameless things that trading organizations buy wholesale and retail. An increasing number of women are becoming fans of the Porfira brand, which means the beginning of the history of a new brand. It may not be long before Minsk becomes one of the links in the famous chain, which includes the most fashionable capitals of the world, such as Paris and Milan, New York, London and Tokyo.
