Tyrian Purple

10000 sea snails. One garment. Reserved by law for emperors only. Tyrian Purple was not a color. It was the most expensive substance on Earth. Extracted from the Murex snail on the shores of Tyre and Sidon. A single gram cost more than gold. Roman emperors wore it exclusively. To wear purple without permission was punishable by death. The Phoenicians invented that law. And held the monopoly. Digital download · High resolution PNG · Ancient and Monochrome versions.