io JACKSON, Distribution of the Shell-Purple Industry. 



within a few yards of the heap brought to light character- 

 istic Cretan vases of the Kamares 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.' 23 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.,' 24 

 and in 383 A.D. the fabrication of purple of superior quality 

 became a state monopoly." 3 



Among other towns of Phoenicia cited as manufactories 

 of purple stuffs are Sarepta, Caesarea, Ncapolis, Lydda, 

 and the port of Doros.' 26 The inhabitants of the island of 

 Cyprus also carried on this industry. The Phoenicians 

 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. 



22 Bosanquet, op. cit. 



23 Pliny, "N.H." ix., ch. 60. 



24 Besnier, quoting Euseb, Hist. Eccks., vii., p. 32. 



25 Ibid, quoting Cod. Just., iv., 40, p. I. 



- G Besnier, op. cit., p. 774. Being unable to obtain access to many 

 of the works quoted by Besnier, I give these and other references on his 

 authority. 



