David, Solomon and royal purple

Occams Barber

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A glimpse into the wardrobe of King David and King Solomon, 3000 years ago


For the first time, rare evidence has been found of fabric dyed with royal purple dating from the time of King David and King Solomon.

While examining the colored textiles from Timna Valley—an ancient copper production district in southern Israel—in a study that has lasted several years, the researchers were surprised to find remnants of woven fabric, a tassel and fibers of wool dyed with royal purple. Direct radiocarbon dating confirms that the finds date from approximately 1000 BCE, corresponding to the biblical monarchies of David and Solomon in Jerusalem. The dye, which is produced from species of mollusk found in the Mediterranean, over 300 km from Timna, is often mentioned in the Bible and appears in various Jewish and Christian contexts…

…"This is a very exciting and important discovery," explains Dr. Naama Sukenik, curator of organic finds at the Israel Antiquities Authority. "This is the first piece of textile ever found from the time of David and Solomon that is dyed with the prestigious purple dye. In antiquity, purple attire was associated with the nobility, with priests, and of course with royalty. The gorgeous shade of the purple, the fact that it does not fade, and the difficulty in producing the dye, which is found in minute quantities in the body of mollusks, all made it the most highly valued of the dyes, which often cost more than gold. Until the current discovery, we had only encountered mollusk-shell waste and potsherds with patches of dye, which provided evidence of the purple industry in the Iron Age. Now, for the first time, we have direct evidence of the dyed fabrics themselves, preserved for some 3000 years."

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A glimpse into the wardrobe of King David and King Solomon, 3000 years ago (phys.org)

OB
 

dqhall

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A glimpse into the wardrobe of King David and King Solomon, 3000 years ago


For the first time, rare evidence has been found of fabric dyed with royal purple dating from the time of King David and King Solomon.

While examining the colored textiles from Timna Valley—an ancient copper production district in southern Israel—in a study that has lasted several years, the researchers were surprised to find remnants of woven fabric, a tassel and fibers of wool dyed with royal purple. Direct radiocarbon dating confirms that the finds date from approximately 1000 BCE, corresponding to the biblical monarchies of David and Solomon in Jerusalem. The dye, which is produced from species of mollusk found in the Mediterranean, over 300 km from Timna, is often mentioned in the Bible and appears in various Jewish and Christian contexts…

…"This is a very exciting and important discovery," explains Dr. Naama Sukenik, curator of organic finds at the Israel Antiquities Authority. "This is the first piece of textile ever found from the time of David and Solomon that is dyed with the prestigious purple dye. In antiquity, purple attire was associated with the nobility, with priests, and of course with royalty. The gorgeous shade of the purple, the fact that it does not fade, and the difficulty in producing the dye, which is found in minute quantities in the body of mollusks, all made it the most highly valued of the dyes, which often cost more than gold. Until the current discovery, we had only encountered mollusk-shell waste and potsherds with patches of dye, which provided evidence of the purple industry in the Iron Age. Now, for the first time, we have direct evidence of the dyed fabrics themselves, preserved for some 3000 years."

More…
A glimpse into the wardrobe of King David and King Solomon, 3000 years ago (phys.org)

OB
I have been to Timnah. They found a Bronze Age Egyptian temple of Hathor there. The place has numerous ancient mining shafts. There is also the tailings heap of a large recent mining operation with blue and green copper mineralization in the rocks. King Uzziah and Jotham had an outpost near the shore of the Red Sea at Elath, that is now Eilat, that is near Timnah. American archaeologists excavated the fort at Tel el-Kheleifeh during the 1930’s.
 
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FireDragon76

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It's possible that ancient Hebrews used shellfish, even though later religious authorities considered it unclean. Onycha, the mystery incense in the Bible, is believed by some to have come from shellfish also:

Onycha - Wikipedia

In East Asia they are still using operculum from shells to make incense. Operculum, when processed, has a woody, musk-like aroma.
 
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