" Tyrian purple " is the contemporary English name of the color that in Latin is denominated " purpura ". Other contemporary English names for purpura are "imperial purple" and "royal purple". The English name "purple" itself originally denominated the specific color purpura.
Purpura is the color of a dye extracted from a mollusk found on the shores of the city of Tyre in ancient Phoenicia. Purple is rare in nature due to pigment chemistry. Beyond this historical dye, true purple pigments are generally rare in the natural world compared to other colors like reds, blues, or yellows.
Many natural instances of purple result from a combination of red and blue pigments or structural coloration, rather than a single purple compound. Purple is an elusive color in the natural world. While vibrant shades of red, blue, green, and yellow commonly occur in plants, animals, and minerals, true purple pigments are far less widespread.
But why is this regal color so rare across biology and geology? The answer lies in the unique way purple hues form in nature. Explore 17 rare colors with rich stories-from ancient blues to medieval reds-revealing history, art, and nature's hidden hues. The color purple is more than just a rare color, serving as a window into the mysterious processes of color expression in our natural world.
9. Tyrian Purple Why It's Rare: Incredibly difficult and expensive to produce; exact methods have been lost What's It Made From: Sea Snails Color Family: Purple photo source: Wikimedia Commons Most people know that purple used to be considered a color reserved for royalty. You may think you know your color wheel, but the stories behind these rare colors around the world just might blow your mind.
Discover the beauty and mystery of nature's rarest wonders. The rarity and cost of natural purple dyes, sourced from sea snails in ancient times, meant that only the wealthiest and most influential could afford to wear this majestic color. This historical connection still lingers, giving an air of prestige and authority to purple in today's designs.
Culturally, what purple symbolizes can vary quite a bit.