The ocean yielded large amounts of a snail called Haustellum brandaris, a creature that releases a purple dye. Such was the lust for purple garments that the dye was worth 20 times the price of gold.

Muricinae (Murex S.S ; Murex (Promurex) ; Haustellum ; Bolinus) ; Vokesimurex (Siratus) Date 2014 Call number QL430.5.M9 H68 2014 Type Identification Pictorial works Guidebooks Physical description ...