12 JACKSON, Distribution of the Shell-Purple Industry. 



of Crete, was also an ancient Phoenician station and 

 probably a factory for the purple trade. 37 



In Thessalia purple was manufactured at Melibcea, 

 and a purple-establishment existed at Thessalonica in 

 Macedonia. 38 



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. 39 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." 41 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. 42 



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 Bceotia. 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 1789, describes a hill called Monte 



'-' Herod, iv\, p. 151. 



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



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



40 H. B. Tristram, op. cit., p. 48 footnote. 



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



42 Ibid. 



43 Plutarch, Alex., 36. 



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



* 6 cf. footnote in Bostock & Riley's " Pliny, N. H." (vol. ii., p. 447). 



