10 Shells as evidence of the Migrations. 
within a few yards of the heap brought to light character- 
istic Cretan vases of the Kamires type, and the foundations 
of a house.” 
“The evidence shows that the extraction of the purple- 
juice was practised in Crete at least as early as 1600 B.C.” * 
Though the Phoenicians were not the original dis- 
coverers of the famous dye, they were largely instrumental 
in spreading the knowledge of the art among the people 
with whom they traded. Their two great centres of manu- 
facture were Sidon and Tyre and the large quantities of 
broken shells around these cities testify to the importance 
and extent of the industry. 
The purple of Tyre was greatly estimated and con- 
sidered the best in Asia.“ The dyeworks of this city 
endured for many centuries until the end of the Roman 
Empire. The imperial manufacture of purple at Tyre is 
mentioned in the reign of Diocletian before 300 A.D.,* 
and in 383 A.D. the fabrication of purple of superior quality 
became a state monopoly.” 
Among other towns of Phaenicia cited as manufactories 
of purple stuffs are Sarepta, Caesarea, Neapolis, Lydda, 
and the port of Doros.“ The inhabitants of the island of 
(‘vprus also carried on this industry. The Pheaenicians 
likewise introduced the knowledge into Egypt and a 
private manufactory is said to have existed in the town of 
This, near Abydos, in the 7th cent. A.D. But it is not 
clear how the purple could have been made so far from 
the sea. 
josanquet, of. cif, 
Pliny, ** N.11.” ix., ch. 60. 
** Besnicr, quoting Euseb, Ast. Becles., vii., p. 32. 
°* Jord. quoting Cod. Just., iv., 40, p. 1. 
* Besnier, of. c7/., p. 774. Being unable to obtain access to many 
of the works quoted by Besnier, [I give these and other references on his 
authority. 
