A Further Note on Purple Dyeing

Rendsburg, Gary A.

doi:10.2307/3210232

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…The colour purple was a symbol of economic and social status in the ancient Mediterranean world (Leggett 1944;Reinhold 1970), with the best known purple dye, the Tyrian or Royal Purple obtained from Gastropodes of the Muricidae, discussed in Near Eastern ancient texts (Pliny 9.60-64; Rendsburg 1991;Stieglitz 1994). Evidence for a purple dyeing industry exists in the form of shell deposits and putative dye vats along the Levantine coast dating from the mid-second millenium BC (Jensen 1963;Stieglitz 1994;Koren 1995).…”

Section: Royal Purple In Prehistorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The perfection of Royal Purple dyeing is attributed to the sea-faring Phoenicians, although the practice is currently believed to originate from Minoan Crete around 1700-1600 BC (Ziderman 1990;Stieglitz 1994;Koren 2005;Sotiropoulou & Karapanagiotis 2006). The earliest textual evidence for the use of the colour purple in the Near East is from Akkadian tablets from Nuzi, Mesopotamia, dating to 1425 BC (Rendsburg 1991). The Armana letters from the fourteenth century BC record purple textiles sent from the Mittani to the pharaoh Amenophis III, whilst Ugaritic and Hittite documents record their inherent value (Rheinhold 1970).…”

Section: Royal Purple In Prehistorymentioning

confidence: 99%

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High prestige Royal Purple dyed textiles from the Bronze Age royal tomb at Qatna, Syria

et al. 2009

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During the ongoing excavations in the palace of the famous Qatna complex, the excavators noted patches of brown staining on the floor of a high status tomb. Chemical extraction revealed the presence of brominated derivatives of indigo and indirubin, and more detailed characterisation showed that it likely came from Hexaplex trunculus. In short, this was none other than the renowned Tyrian or Royal Purple mentioned by Pliny, which was to have such an influential career colouring the clothing of the powerful. Furthermore, it was associated in the tomb with ghosts of high quality textiles preserved in gypsum.

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Section: Royal Purple In Prehistorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Royal Purple In Prehistorymentioning

confidence: 99%

High prestige Royal Purple dyed textiles from the Bronze Age royal tomb at Qatna, Syria

et al. 2009

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“…Direct evidence to the use of shellfish purple was identified in the islands of Santorini and Rhodes, where purple pigments from murex snail were found in wall paintings dated to the 17th century BCE [ 34 , 35 ]. The earliest textual evidence for the use of true purple in the Near East is attribute to the murex shells according to textual context is from Akkadian tablets from Nuzi, Mesopotamia, dating to 1425 BCE (this identification is based on contextual and philological arguments [ 36 , 37 ]). Other early written sources are the Amarna letters dated to the 14 th century BCE, in which items made of wool dyed with the prestigious purple are described among other merchandise [ 38 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early evidence of royal purple dyed textile from Timna Valley (Israel)

et al. 2021

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In the context of a broad study aimed at examining dyeing technologies in the Timna textiles collection, three samples of prestigious fibers dyed with murex sea snail were identified. Our identification is based on the presence of 6-monobromoindigotin and 6,6-dibromoindigotin components (detected using HPLC analysis), which is considered unequivocal evidence for the use of murex-derived purple dyestuff. Furthermore, by comparing the analytical results with those obtained in a series of controlled dyeing experiments we were able to shed more light on the specific species used in the dyeing process and glean insights into the ancient dyeing technology. The samples originated from excavations at the extensive Iron Age copper smelting site of “Slaves’ Hill” (Site 34), which is tightly dated by radiocarbon to the late 11th–early 10th centuries BCE. While evidence for the important role of purple dyes in the ancient Mediterranean goes back to the Middle Bronze Age (early 2nd millennium BCE), finds of dyed textiles are extremely rare, and those from Timna are the oldest currently known in the Southern Levant. In conjunction with other observations of the very high quality of the Timna textiles, this provides an exceptional opportunity to address questions related to social stratification and organization of the nomadic society operating the mines (early Edom), the “fashion” of elite in the region during the early Iron Age, trade connections, technological capabilities, and more.

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A Further Note on Purple Dyeing

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

High prestige Royal Purple dyed textiles from the Bronze Age royal tomb at Qatna, Syria

High prestige Royal Purple dyed textiles from the Bronze Age royal tomb at Qatna, Syria

Early evidence of royal purple dyed textile from Timna Valley (Israel)

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