Review and New Evidence on the Molluscan Purple Pigment Used in the Early Late Bronze Age Aegean Wall Paintings

The production and use of the pigment extracted from murex molluscs is discussed here in association with purple textile dyeing industry Prehistoric Aegean. “True” has been identified a number archaeological finds dating early Late Bronze Age, found old recent excavations at three different but contemporary sites: Akrotiri Raos on Thera, Trianda Rhodes. chemical composition shellfish either lump form or applied wall paintings relation to context several examined reference Pliny’s purpurissum. results comprehensive methodology combining new data obtained molecular spectroscopies (microRaman FTIR) already reported high performance liquid chromatography coupled diode array detector (HPLC–DAD) samples are comparison published relating few other instances analytically proven Aegean over timespan its documented exploitation.