Old coins from Tir or Sidon, in Lebanon, could figure Murex brandaris, maybe a full-face portrait, or maybe as a tiny seal-mark. That 'Imperial purple' was their business, so they advertised it. How anyone ever discovered that a common sea-snail could be used as a precious dye to colour Imperial Roman garments, and get the Imperial Romans to accept the idea, defeats me. As does the discussion about 'Tzistit'. Obviously, old Jewish Rabbis ruled in favour of snails, against common Indian herbal indigo (used in jeans) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To leave this list, click on the following web link: http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1 Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the list. ----------------------------------------------------------------------