1 2 Shells (is evidence of the Migrations. 



of Crete, was afso an ancient Phoenician station and 

 probably a factory for the purple trade. 37 



In Thessalia purple was manufactured at Meliboea, 

 and a purple-establishment existed at Thessalonica in 

 Macedonia:* 8 



In Greece proper the two most important centres of 

 the industry were the coast of Laconia and the Gulf of 

 Corinth. The purple of Laconia was considered the best 

 in Europe:' 9 Large heaps of Murex branderis are reported 

 by Tristram on this coast 40 From the island of Cythera 

 the Phoenicians despatched to the east and the west the 

 celebrated " Laconian purples." 4 On the north shore of 

 the Gulf of Corinth, in Phocis, the purple-shells were so 

 abundant that half the population of Bulis was occupied 

 solely in their capture. 4 " 



Among other Grecian places famous for the purple 

 industry, may be mentioned the coast of Argolis, with the 

 port of Hermione, where the purple stuffs of Darius were 

 prepared ;** the east coast of Eubaea ; Eretria and Styra 

 in the same island ; and Anthedon in Hoeotia. 44 



In the western Mediterranean, Tarentum, the modern 

 Otranto, was a most important station for purple from an 

 early date. Hardouin tells us that in his time there were 

 still to be seen the remains of ancient dyeing-houses, and 

 that vast heaps of the shells of Murex had been discovered 

 there. 45 Aufrere, in 1/89, describes a hill called Monte 



'*' Herod, iv., p. 151. 



** <f. Besnier, op. cit., p. 775. 



a " Pliny, " X. H.," ix., ch. 60. 



40 H. B. Tristram, op. <//., p. 48 footnote. 



41 cf. Besnier, op. <//., p. 775. 



42 Jbid. 



43 Plutarch, Alex., 36. 



44 cf. Besnier, op. cit., p. 775. 



45 if. footnote in Bostock & Riley's " Pliny, M. H." (vol. ii., p. 447). 



