It was a custom of the ancient nations to paint their statues, or figures on the walls, with the primitive colours,--but chiefly red or vermilion. In so doing they believed that they approached the colour of the Gods,--and in Rome, from the same feeling, a Conqueror granted the honour of a triumphal entry to the Capital, was always painted red, in supposed imitation of the God of War. It is recorded in Scripture as being practised by the Chaldeans, and as a consequence by their associates the Babylonians. "For when she saw men pourtrayed on the wall,--the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with _vermilion_, &c." [Eze. xxiii. 14.] It was, also, practised by the Egyptians and Tyrians,--and is now discovered in America:--for Mr. Stephens states that the sculpture, and even the steps, had been painted,--that black and white,--red, blue, and yellow are distinctly visible, but that the _Red_ (vermilion) is predominant. From the number of colours another analogy is traceable, for of all the ancient nations that of Tyrus was the most renowned for her knowledge of colours,--and when to the "_primitive three_," she added by her discovery the celebrated tint, or Tyrian Dye, her renown was increased, and spread throughout all the Nations,--so much so, that they sent their royal mantles to Tyrus to receive the costly dye--and from that fact, regal robes have continued to be tinted, even to this day, with the gorgeous _Purple_,--which, though originally intended for blood-stained Kings and warriors,--succeeding ages have placed upon even the graceful forms of dove-eyed Queens; (so strong is custom)--while the first and Heavenly colour--blue,--and which from Scripture was the tint of Aaron's Robes of Peace,--has passed unheeded by, although commanded by The voice of The King of Kings. "And thou shalt make the robe of the Ephod _all of blue_." [Ex. xxviii. 31.] The exact tint of the Tyrian Dye is not known, other than it was _purple_.--There are several degrees of purple,--light or dark,--as the _blue_ shall predominate in its mixture with the _Red_. The original dye was derived from a shellfish (purple murex) as before related;--and upon the occasion of its being discovered, the Tyrian thought that his dog had been wounded in the mouth, for he imagined that his faithful follower was _bleeding_:--here then the tint is arrived at,--viz., that it must have resembled that of _blood_,--consequently it was the _light purple_, or rather _crimson_ as it is now termed,--therefore, the _Red_ predominated over the Blue. The Prophet of the Advent defines that in ancient days (760 B. C.) scarlet, red, and crimson were esteemed the same,--they are with us only different in degree,--but the two last are proved by Scripture to have been identical.