The ancient world

These were thought to arise in four organs - the spleen, heart, liver and brain - and to determine emotional and physical disposition. Health involved the proper balance of these humours, and disease their mixture in wrong proportion. Colour was intrinsic to healing, which involved restoring the balance. Coloured garments, oils, ointments and salves were used to treat disease.

Ancient Egyptians and Greeks used coloured minerals, stones, crystals, salves and dyes as remedies, and sanctuaries painted in various shades in treatment.

Interest in the physical nature of colour developed in Ancient Greece alongside the concept of the elements - air, fire, water and earth. These fundamental constituents of the universe were associated with the qualities of coolness, heat, wetness and dryness, and also the four humours or bodily fluids - choler or yellow bile, blood (red), phlegm (white) and black bile.