Yellow is associated with sunshine, knowledge and flourishing of all living creatures, but also with autumn and maturity. Sun was one of the most important symbols for Man and was worshiped in many indigene cultures as God. According to Greek mythology the Sun-god Helios wearing a yellow robe rode in a golden chariot drawn by four fiery horses across the heavenly firmament. The radiant yellow light of the Sun personified the divine wisdom. In China yellow color is assigned to the active and creative male Yang principle. Ancient Egyptians and the painter Franz Marc on the other side, ascribed yellow to the female principle based on its gentleness, cheerfulness and sensuality.The negative connotation of yellow as the color of envy and as a label of discrimination has its origin in Middle Ages.
The title of Turner's painting describes pointedly the role of the color yellow: Radiant yellow sun ends a long period of darkness and begins a new pure era of Light after the all devouring Deluge. The painting is considered to be an allegory of Light. Moses is depicted slightly above the center in the vortex of light.