Colouring the Mediterranean: Production and Consumption of Purple-dyed Textiles in Pre-Roman Times

The exact shade of true purple depends on parameters such as chemical precursors of each snail species, the dyeing process, and oxygen/light exposure.

“the exact shade depends on different parameters, such as the chemical precursors compounds of each snail species, the dyeing process, and the levels of oxygen and light that the dye is exposed to [15].”

The dyeing process using murex was a sophisticated, multi-stage process more complex than plant-based dyeing.

“The dyeing process using murex was a sophisticated, multi-stage process [15]. It was more complex than dyeing techniques based on plants”

The earliest true purple textiles were found in Syria and are dated to the early second millennium BCE, including finds from Chagar Bazar and Qatna.

“The earliest true purple textiles were found in Syria and are dated to the early second millennium BCE. These include finds from a burial at Chagar Bazar (18th–16th centuries BCE, [15]), and samples preserved in gypsum found in Qatna’s palace [62].”

In the Eastern Mediterranean, the largest concentration of Iron Age sites with evidence of purple industry is located along the northern coast of the Southern Levant.

“In the Eastern Mediterranean, the largest concentration of Iron Age sites with evidence of purple industry is located along the northern coast of the Southern Levant [15]”

In most cases these textiles are very delicate and represent a high quality of weaving.

“In most cases these textiles are very delicate and represent a high quality of weaving [15].”