Expert: Maria - 10/17/2008

Question
Is it true that there was no word for blue in pre-Homeric times?  I find this hard to believe as I have come across the word 'kyanos', which I think means dark blue.

Answer
Hello,

In ancient Greek there was  the masculine noun “kyanos”, also spelled “kuanos” (“κύανος “in Greek letters ) which  indicated  a dark-blue substance/enamel (probably derived from powdered lapislazuli stone known since 5000 BC) used in the Heroic Age to adorn works in metal, as we read e.g. in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey as well as in Hesiod’s Shield of Heracles.

This noun was later used also as an adjective ( kyanos/ kyaneos) meaning exactly “blue” / “dark-blue”.

In short, also in pre-Homeric times the Greeks knew this colour and had a noun to indicate it, although they did not have yet the adjective which was used only later.

Best regards,
Maria