Murex snail shells
Item
Identifier
2025.118
Title
Murex snail shells
Type
Material
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Description
Used in Greek and Roman times for dyeing togas and in the Middle Ages for decorating manuscripts. The mollusks secrete a yellowish liquid that oxidizes to a purplish red in bright sunlight; each mollusk only produces one drop of colorant so large numbers were needed to produce enough dye for an entire cloth, making the dye was very expensive.
Subject
shells; Tyrian Purple; dye; dyes; dyeing
Copyright statement
These images are posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. Other uses may not be permitted.