Gold and White Are Divine: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:Cosmos_5195.png|link=Dissidia Final Fantasy|frame|[[Hot God|Meet your]] [[Big Good]] [[Dissidia Final Fantasy|for the game]].]]
[[File:Cosmosfullart 323.jpg|link=Dissidia Final Fantasy|frame|[[Hot God|Meet your]] [[Big Good]] [[Dissidia Final Fantasy|for the game]].]]


In many western and European societies, the colors gold and white are associated with goodness and divinity. White and gold invoke images of Heaven and angels, and embody purity and incorruptibility -- white light, when the beam is dispersed, becomes a rainbow of all colors, while gold never tarnishes, rusts or corrodes.
In many western and European societies, the colors gold and white are associated with goodness and divinity. White and gold invoke images of Heaven and angels, and embody purity and incorruptibility—white light, when the beam is dispersed, becomes a rainbow of all colors, while gold never tarnishes, rusts or corrodes.


Thus in works of media, you're likely to see divine beings clad in white and gold. As white and gold can represent the sky as part of their association with Heaven, blue may also be featured. The deities may be associated with the colors beyond clothing, and thus have silver/white hair or have [[Hair of Gold]], with pale or bronze skin. Even if the gods are not good, the colors will still reflect their divinity. The colors may also feature on their relics. Mortals who are connected to the gods, or wish to [[A God Am I|appear as divine figures]], will also wear white and gold.
Thus in works of media, you're likely to see divine beings clad in white and gold. As white and gold can represent the sky as part of their association with Heaven, blue may also be featured. The deities may be associated with the colors beyond clothing, and thus have silver/white hair or have [[Hair of Gold]], with pale or bronze skin. Even if the gods are not good, the colors will still reflect their divinity. The colors may also feature on their relics. Mortals who are connected to the gods, or wish to [[A God Am I|appear as divine figures]], will also wear white and gold.
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* Darken Rahl, the [[Big Bad]] from the first book of ''[[The Sword of Truth]]'' series, was wearing white with a narrow band of gold, and a knife in a golden scabbard. He was worshiped like a god, tried to obtain godlike powers through an ancient artifact, and [[Deal with the Devil|served the devil]].
* Darken Rahl, the [[Big Bad]] from the first book of ''[[The Sword of Truth]]'' series, was wearing white with a narrow band of gold, and a knife in a golden scabbard. He was worshiped like a god, tried to obtain godlike powers through an ancient artifact, and [[Deal with the Devil|served the devil]].
* In [[Robert E. Howard]]'s ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' story "[[Iron Shadows in the Moon|Shadows in The Moonlight]]", the [[Half-Human Hybrid|demi-god]] and [[Physical God|god]] Olivia [[Dreaming of Times Gone By|dreams]] of are blond and pale skinned:
* In [[Robert E. Howard]]'s ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' story "[[Iron Shadows in the Moon|Shadows in The Moonlight]]", the [[Half-Human Hybrid|demi-god]] and [[Physical God|god]] Olivia [[Dreaming of Times Gone By|dreams]] of are blond and pale skinned:
{{quote| ''They were pressing about one bound to a pillar: a slender white-skinned youth, with a cluster of golden curls about his alabaster brow. His beauty was not altogether human--like the dream of a god, chiseled out of living marble.''}}
{{quote|''They were pressing about one bound to a pillar: a slender white-skinned youth, with a cluster of golden curls about his alabaster brow. His beauty was not altogether human--like the dream of a god, chiseled out of living marble.''}}
* Mentioned in Raymond E. Feist's [[The Riftwar Cycle|Riftwar Saga]]. In Tsurani culture the Emperor (known as the Light of Heaven) has White and Gold as his house colours. Expanded on in the Empire trilogy co-written with Janny Wurts.
* Mentioned in Raymond E. Feist's [[The Riftwar Cycle|Riftwar Saga]]. In Tsurani culture the Emperor (known as the Light of Heaven) has White and Gold as his house colours. Expanded on in the Empire trilogy co-written with Janny Wurts.


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== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
* [[The Emperor]] from ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'', when he's not depicted as a rotting corpse at least.
* [[The Emperor]] from ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'', when he's not depicted as a rotting corpse at least.
* Many Fairy-type and Light-attribute monsters in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!|Yu-Gi-Oh]]'', including high-ranking Fairies [http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/File:SplendidVenusSDLS-EN-C-1E.png The Splendid Venus], [http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080901041002/yugioh/images/4/41/AthenaPP02-EN-ScR-UE.png Athena], [http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110616071054/yugioh/images/b/b6/Tethys%2CGoddessofLightSDLS-EN-C-1E.png Tethys Goddess of Light], and the [http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110730103330/yugioh/images/b/b1/Parshat.PNG Airknight Parshath] line. The "[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120214150305/yugioh/images/0/0d/Lightray_Monsters.jpg Lightray]" archetype is designed around the idea of Good Counterparts of existing monsters (an earlier archetype featured [[Evil Counterpart|Evil Counterparts]]), and their outfits are recolored white, gold and blue.
* Many Fairy-type and Light-attribute monsters in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!|Yu-Gi-Oh]]'', including high-ranking Fairies [https://web.archive.org/web/20151120164433/http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/File:SplendidVenusSDLS-EN-C-1E.png The Splendid Venus], [http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080901041002/yugioh/images/4/41/AthenaPP02-EN-ScR-UE.png Athena]{{Dead link}}, [http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110616071054/yugioh/images/b/b6/Tethys%2CGoddessofLightSDLS-EN-C-1E.png Tethys Goddess of Light]{{Dead link}}, and the [http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110730103330/yugioh/images/b/b1/Parshat.PNG Airknight Parshath]{{Dead link}} line. The "[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120214150305/yugioh/images/0/0d/Lightray_Monsters.jpg Lightray]{{Dead link}}" archetype is designed around the idea of Good Counterparts of existing monsters (an earlier archetype featured [[Evil Counterpart]]s), and their outfits are recolored white, gold and blue.


== [[Video Games]] ==
== [[Video Games]] ==
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** Helios is an interesting case in that he wears normally a golden armour complimented by a white toga, but he has a crimson cape as well.
** Helios is an interesting case in that he wears normally a golden armour complimented by a white toga, but he has a crimson cape as well.
* Arceus from ''[[Pokémon]]''.
* Arceus from ''[[Pokémon]]''.
* Most angels of the ''[[Disgaea]]'' series.
* Most angels of the ''[[Disgaea]]'' series.
* ''[[Breath of Fire]]'' III and IV, Ryu ends up with [[Hair of Gold]] and white-clothing whenever he transforms into his "final" form (Kaiser in III and God-Ryu in IV, respectively). Fou-Lu also counts if he {{spoiler|absorbs Ryu in the non-canonical ending}}. Also, Infinity in IV, {{spoiler|Fou-Lu's transformation if he absorbs Ryu}}, is a palette-swap of Tyrant Dragon, with white and gold skin, and blue divine wings.
* ''[[Breath of Fire]]'' III and IV, Ryu ends up with [[Hair of Gold]] and white-clothing whenever he transforms into his "final" form (Kaiser in III and God-Ryu in IV, respectively). Fou-Lu also counts if he {{spoiler|absorbs Ryu in the non-canonical ending}}. Also, Infinity in IV, {{spoiler|Fou-Lu's transformation if he absorbs Ryu}}, is a palette-swap of Tyrant Dragon, with white and gold skin, and blue divine wings.
* Fina's dress in ''[[Skies of Arcadia]]''.
* Fina's dress in ''[[Skies of Arcadia]]''.
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* Shinkoku officials abuse this trope (along with some silver) in ''[[Asura's Wrath]]''. They set themselves up as immortal cyborg demigod saviors, but in reality they are exploiting the people for their [[Mana|Mantra]].
* Shinkoku officials abuse this trope (along with some silver) in ''[[Asura's Wrath]]''. They set themselves up as immortal cyborg demigod saviors, but in reality they are exploiting the people for their [[Mana|Mantra]].
** {{spoiler|[[True Final Boss|Chakravartin]].}}
** {{spoiler|[[True Final Boss|Chakravartin]].}}
* Ilias and Micaela in ''[[Monster Girl Quest]]'' are both blonde angels with white wings. Ilias also wears white clothing and gold jewelry.


== Web Comics ==
== Web Comics ==
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* The clothing of many gods from [[Egyptian Mythology]] is white with gold trim, particularly the ones that wear kilts like Anubis.
* The clothing of many gods from [[Egyptian Mythology]] is white with gold trim, particularly the ones that wear kilts like Anubis.
* The Pope, of course, and numerous symbols of Christianity, including the Keys to Heaven, a gold and a silver key overlaid.
* The Pope, of course, and numerous symbols of Christianity, including the Keys to Heaven, a gold and a silver key overlaid.
* The flags of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Papal States are the only ones allowed to use gold and white/silver together--normally the rules of heraldry forbid putting two metal colours together--precisely because it is seen as exceptional and holy.
* The flags of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Papal States are the only ones allowed to use gold and white/silver together—normally the rules of heraldry forbid putting two metal colours together—precisely because it is seen as exceptional and holy.
* The highest clergymen of some Buddhist order.
* The highest clergymen of some Buddhist order.


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[[Category:Tropes of the Divine]]
[[Category:Tropes of the Divine]]
[[Category:The Gilded Index]]
[[Category:The Gilded Index]]
[[Category:Gold and White Are Divine]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Latest revision as of 22:53, 23 July 2021

Meet your Big Good for the game.

In many western and European societies, the colors gold and white are associated with goodness and divinity. White and gold invoke images of Heaven and angels, and embody purity and incorruptibility—white light, when the beam is dispersed, becomes a rainbow of all colors, while gold never tarnishes, rusts or corrodes.

Thus in works of media, you're likely to see divine beings clad in white and gold. As white and gold can represent the sky as part of their association with Heaven, blue may also be featured. The deities may be associated with the colors beyond clothing, and thus have silver/white hair or have Hair of Gold, with pale or bronze skin. Even if the gods are not good, the colors will still reflect their divinity. The colors may also feature on their relics. Mortals who are connected to the gods, or wish to appear as divine figures, will also wear white and gold.

Subtrope of Good Colors, Evil Colors and Color Coded for Your Convenience. Contrast Red and Black and Evil All Over. Compare Color-Coded Patrician, Light Is Good, Light Is Not Good, Woman in White, Man in White.

Examples of Gold and White Are Divine include:


Anime and Manga

  • The Lancelot from Code Geass
  • Hibiki's Vanguard from Vandread has white and gold colors
  • Digimon, numerous Angel Digimon are colored white, gold and blue. Angemon and Angewoman are probably the most famous.
  • In Saint Beast, the head god Zeus wears a white chiton with gold accessories while the angels dress in a variety of colours in comparison.
  • The Gold Saints in Saint Seiya. Divine? Definitely. Good? Well, not all of them.
  • Gilgamesh in Fate series definitely evokes this trope. He's also the biggest jackass of all.

Literature

They were pressing about one bound to a pillar: a slender white-skinned youth, with a cluster of golden curls about his alabaster brow. His beauty was not altogether human--like the dream of a god, chiseled out of living marble.

  • Mentioned in Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar Saga. In Tsurani culture the Emperor (known as the Light of Heaven) has White and Gold as his house colours. Expanded on in the Empire trilogy co-written with Janny Wurts.

Live-Action TV

Tabletop Games

Video Games

  • Father Balder in Bayonetta uses a white and gold costume. Divine? Certainly, as the last of the Lumen Sages. Good? Haha, no.
  • Page picture provided by Cosmos of Dissidia Final Fantasy, the game's Big Good and Goddess of Harmony.
  • The "Light Emperor" of Final Fantasy II rules over Heaven and wears light yellow and gold robes with lavendar and white details, a gold crest and white wings.
  • Crisis Core has Minerva.
  • Final Fantasy XIII, Galenth Dysley wears a white robe with gold and blue colorings. His title in the Japanese version of the game is even "Great Pope", and so he looks the part. Zigzagged by his true form Barthandelus, which at first appears almost entirely black with sparse white and gold details, but lightens to silver and white with more prominent gold colorings in subsequent battles.
    • In the same game, Orphan appears as a gold and white being.
      • Hope wears the same colors in Final Fantasy XIII-2, probably as a conscious decision by the character designers to denote he serves a similar role in society.
  • Several Final Fantasy games set in Ivalice feature Ultima the High Seraph, with blue-green skin and robes of white and gold.
  • Manaketes of the Divine Dragon tribe in the Fire Emblem series are either white or gold in their dragon forms.
  • God of War, Zeus wears a white robe with gold armor.
    • Helios is an interesting case in that he wears normally a golden armour complimented by a white toga, but he has a crimson cape as well.
  • Arceus from Pokémon.
  • Most angels of the Disgaea series.
  • Breath of Fire III and IV, Ryu ends up with Hair of Gold and white-clothing whenever he transforms into his "final" form (Kaiser in III and God-Ryu in IV, respectively). Fou-Lu also counts if he absorbs Ryu in the non-canonical ending. Also, Infinity in IV, Fou-Lu's transformation if he absorbs Ryu, is a palette-swap of Tyrant Dragon, with white and gold skin, and blue divine wings.
  • Fina's dress in Skies of Arcadia.
  • In the Monster Rancher series, the holy-aspected Gali is gold and white, and all monsters with the Gali subtype gain that coloring and the holy aspect.
  • Shinkoku officials abuse this trope (along with some silver) in Asura's Wrath. They set themselves up as immortal cyborg demigod saviors, but in reality they are exploiting the people for their Mantra.
  • Ilias and Micaela in Monster Girl Quest are both blonde angels with white wings. Ilias also wears white clothing and gold jewelry.

Web Comics

Web Original

  • In the webcomic Overcompensating, God wears a white robe with golden letters spelling out "YHWH". Jesus wears a similar attire that says "INRI", though often the color of his robe is more beige or light brown.
  • The colors gold, white, and red are associated with the God of Time in Tasakeru. Likewise with silver, white, and blue for the Goddess of Life.

Western Animation

  • In My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic, Physical God Princess Celestia is white, and her crown, breastplate and shoes are gold. Averted with her sister, Princess Luna, who is blue and black. Their color schemes are supposed to represent day and night, respectively.

Real Life

  • This trope can be traced back to the ancient statues of gods which were covered with ivory and gold, such as the statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This was so common that there is a term, "chryselephantine", used solely to refer to such statuary.
  • The clothing of many gods from Egyptian Mythology is white with gold trim, particularly the ones that wear kilts like Anubis.
  • The Pope, of course, and numerous symbols of Christianity, including the Keys to Heaven, a gold and a silver key overlaid.
  • The flags of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Papal States are the only ones allowed to use gold and white/silver together—normally the rules of heraldry forbid putting two metal colours together—precisely because it is seen as exceptional and holy.
  • The highest clergymen of some Buddhist order.