Tyrian purple
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Tyrian purple, also known as royal purple, is a dye that was used as far back as 1600 BC. It was used by the Phoenicians, highly prized by the Romans, and was used to a lesser extent in the Middle Ages. It is thought to be the die used in ancient times to make tzitzit, Jewish prayer shawls.
Tyranian purple is extracted from the murex, and marine snail. Pliny the Elder describes the production process in the 1st century AD.
