Tyrian Purple Dye

Tyrian Purple Dye

As far back as 4,000 years ago, people used the shells of Murex sea snails to make purple dye known as Tyrian purple. The extraction process was time-consuming, making the colour purple rare and expensive. Purple was so expensive that usually only royals could afford to wear it!

Click here for a video about how purple dyes were made

Alexander Storing