080 Murex Shells

Museum Description: Murex Shells

Room: 57/Case: 12/Number: None

Scripture: Acts 16:14

These amazing little shells may not look much, but back in Bible times they were incredibly valuable.  They are the source of the purple dye mentioned in the Bible as "wool dyed reddish purple," or the purple cloth used for royal garments.  Each shell would produce a single drop of cream coloured liquid.  Exposed to the air and sunlight, this would become a deep purple colour.  It could take at least 10,000 shells to produce enough dye for a single garment, hence the reason they were so expensive and the sign of someone very wealthy!  The city of Tyre was famous for producing this dye, which became known as Tyrian purple, and Lydia evidently had a business trading in this colour.