The Colour of Kings: Tyrian Purple

    

     Tyrian Purple (Greek: Porphyra and Latin: Purpura), also known as Royal Purple, Imperial Purple or Imperial dye, which is a secretion produced by certain species of predatory sea snails in the family Muricidae, a type of rock snail by the name Murex. The dye was greatly prized in antiquity because it did not fade, rather it became brighter and more intense with weathering and sunlight. It didn't come out in the wash, but actually enhanced with washing.

     Tyrian Purple was named after the City of Tyre in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was first produced by the Ancient Phoenicians. The Tyrian discovers natural dye that became most valuable, most expensive, desirable and precious treasure in the Roman world. It would take 250,000 murex shellfish to attain one ounce of Tyrian purple, so the dye was highly valued. 

     Tyrian Purple was the most expensive commodity the Roman Empire knew. Clothes dyed in Tyrian Purple proclaimed wealth and power. In modern day term $2,000 per gram. The price of a single gram was equal to €1,000 equal to the value of 2 ounces of solid gold today. Only the  very rich aristocrats can afford to buy and use such luxury good in the Ancient time. It was then considered the Colour of Kings. 



  

The oldiest known Murex-dyed textile is a fine wool tapestry woven during the 5th to 4th Centuries BC in Persia. Originally a garment, it was later adapted-in a well-worn condition-as a felt-lined horse trapping, which was buried with its owner.