The dye in question is Tyrian Purple which became a highly prized pigment in the Bronze Age and retained its importance well into the late medieval period, stated CNN.The dye was prevalent amongst ...

Tyrian purple was reserved for the elite in antiquity and was worth more than gold in the Roman era. The pigment was found embedded in beeswax as part of an excavation of the bath house in Carlisle.

In Tunisia, Mohamed cracks and scrapes at snails to make authentic Tyrian purple dye. Farther south in Uganda, Akello pounds and grinds nuts by hand to make silky, luxurious East African shea butter.

The much sought-after source of purple dye came from one of the glands of a sea snail called the murex. This particular shade, known as Tyrian, was unusual because it didn’t fade and became more ...

from natural latex mattresses and bespoke dress shoes to handmade calligraphy ink and ancient Tyrian purple dye. Our first stop is New Hampshire in the United States, where a master bladesmith has ...