Tyrian purple

noun

Also called Tyrian dye. a highly prized crimson or purple dye of classical antiquity, originally obtained at great expense from a certain shellfish: later shown to be an indigo derivative and synthetically produced, and now replaced by other synthetic dyes.
a vivid, purplish red.

Tyrian purple

noun

a deep purple dye obtained from molluscs of the genus Murex and highly prized in antiquity
1. a vivid purplish-red colour
2. ( as adjective ) Sometimes shortened toTyrian
  a Tyrian-purple robe

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tyrian purple¹

First recorded in 1575–85

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The common name of the dyestuff, Tyrian purple, derives from the habitat of the mollusks, which the Phoenicians purportedly began harvesting in the 16th century B.C. in the city-state of Tyre in present-day Lebanon.

From

By the 14th century, the secrets of Tyrian purple were lost, according to the University of Chicago Library’s 2007 exhibition “The Origins of Color.”

From

For the ancient Phoenicians, from modern-day Lebanon, the trade in Tyrian purple helped build a mercantile empire that established new colonies across the Mediterranean, including at Carthage, near modern Tunis, under the mythical Queen Dido.

From

One gram of natural Tyrian purple pigment, for instance, takes 120 pounds of sea snails to create, so paint companies make a mixed, artificial hue instead.

From

Murex mollusks are the only source of the ancient dye, documented by Pliny, known as Tyrian purple.

From

Tyrian tyro

Browse