Ochre
Ochre is a natural pigment found in the earth, consisting of sand, clay, and iron oxide. It is known for its vibrant yellow, red, or brown colors and has been used by humans for thousands of years for various purposes, including art, ceremonial practices, and body painting.
History
The use of ochre dates back to the Stone Age, where it was used by early humans for body painting, cave painting, and burial rituals. In Australia, ochre has been used by Aboriginal people for over 40,000 years for ceremonial and artistic purposes. In Africa, ochre was used by the San people for rock art.
Production and Use
Ochre is produced by grinding ochreous earth into a fine powder, then mixing it with water to create a paint or dye. It can be used to color a wide range of materials, including leather, cloth, and wood. In addition to its use in art and ceremony, ochre has also been used as a sunscreen and insect repellent by some cultures.
Types of Ochre
There are several types of ochre, each with its own unique color and properties:
- Red Ochre: This is the most common type of ochre, known for its bright red color. It is rich in iron oxide, which gives it its distinctive hue.
- Yellow Ochre: This type of ochre is less common than red ochre, but is still widely used. It gets its color from a mineral called goethite.
- Purple Ochre: This is a rare type of ochre that gets its color from a mix of red and blue pigments.
- Brown Ochre: This type of ochre is a mix of red and yellow ochre, resulting in a brown color.
Cultural Significance
Ochre holds significant cultural importance in many societies. For example, in Aboriginal Australian culture, different colors of ochre are used to represent different aspects of the spiritual world. In Africa, ochre is used in rituals and ceremonies, and is often associated with fertility and vitality.
See Also
Pigments | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
This pigment-related article is a stub.
|
Art materials | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
This Art materials related article is a stub.
|
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

This San people related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.
Transform your life with W8MD's budget GLP-1 injections from $125.
W8MD offers a medical weight loss program to lose weight in Philadelphia. Our physician-supervised medical weight loss provides:
- Most insurances accepted or discounted self-pay rates. We will obtain insurance prior authorizations if needed.
- Generic GLP1 weight loss injections from $125 for the starting dose.
- Also offer prescription weight loss medications including Phentermine, Qsymia, Diethylpropion, Contrave etc.
NYC weight loss doctor appointments
Start your NYC weight loss journey today at our NYC medical weight loss and Philadelphia medical weight loss clinics.
- Call 718-946-5500 to lose weight in NYC or for medical weight loss in Philadelphia 215-676-2334.
- Tags:NYC medical weight loss, Philadelphia lose weight Zepbound NYC, Budget GLP1 weight loss injections, Wegovy Philadelphia, Wegovy NYC, Philadelphia medical weight loss, Brookly weight loss and Wegovy NYC
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD