International Association to Save Tyre | Tyre Foundation
Purple Dye Workshop

Purple Dye Workshop

Tyrian purple (Greek, ???????, porphyra, Latin: purpura), also known as royal purple, imperial purple or imperial dye, is a purple-red dye, which is extracted from sea snails, and which was first produced by the ancient Phoenicians. This dye was greatly prized in antiquity because it did not fade, rather it became brighter and more intense with weathering and sunlight.

Tyrian purple was expensive.

The dye substance consists of a mucous secretion from the hypobranchial gland of one of several medium-sized predatory sea snails found in the eastern Mediterranean. These are the marine gastropods Murex brandaris the spiny dye-murex.

Purple Dye Workshop

For more information, please contact our offices in Beirut on the following numbers:
Landline: +961 (0)1 851351
Mobile: +961 (0)3 699252