Milesian Purple

Milesian purple, also known as Milesian red, royal purple, imperial purple, or imperial dye, is a reddish-purple natural dye. It is a secretion produced by several species of predatory sea snails, found in the waters around the Kingdom of Rivain. In older times, extracting this dye involved tens of thousands of snails and substantial labour, and as a result, the dye was highly valued.

History & Usage

History

The colour-fast dye was an item of luxury trade, prized by Albans, who used it to colour ceremonial robes. Used as a dye, the colour shifts from blue to reddish-purple. It is believed that the intensity of the purple hue improved rather than faded as the dyed cloth aged.
The scholar Julius Pollux, writing in the Golden Age, asserted that the purple dye was first discovered by the one of Emperor Arran's generals, Heracles of Tyre, or rather, by his dog, whose mouth was stained purple from chewing on snails along the coast at Tyre.
Milesian purple was first used by the early Albans. The dye was greatly prized because the colour did not easily fade, but instead became brighter with weathering and sunlight. It came in various shades, the most prized being that of black-tinted clotted blood.
Because it was extremely difficult to make, Milesian purple was expensive: the historian Theopompus reported, "Purple for dyes fetched its weight in shillings". The expense meant that purple-dyed textiles became status symbols, whose use was restricted by sumptuary laws. The most senior Imperial magistrates wore a toga praetexta, a white toga edged with a stripe of Milesian purple. The even more sumptuous toga picta, solid Milesian purple with a gold stripe, was worn by generals celebrating an Imperial triumph.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Made and distributed by the Kingdom of Rivain. This luxury dye is frequently sought after by the nobles of Albion.

Type

Textile

Color

Very deep red