There is no evil that does not promise inducements. Avarice promises money, luxury, a varied assortment of pleasures, ambition, a purple robe and applause. Vices tempt you by the rewards they offer.”
Seneca
Our ancestors shared our love for colour and would sacrifice great amounts of wealth to obtain the plants and substances that could be made into dyes. You had to be exceedingly rich to afford Tyrian purple, named after Tyre, the city that manufactured this exclusive dye. Prized above silver or gold, its colour would never fade; only grow vividly brighter under the nurturing warmth of the sun. Purple, from the beginning, assumed the symbol for royalty, pomp, power, wealthy and majesty.
The ancients believed that Tryian purple was discovered by Heracles, or rather his dog, which had a fondness for dining on the tender snails he found along the coastline of the Levant. It was only a matter of time before Heracles put two and two together to establish the cause of the purple stain around the mouth of his dog. It was truly a gift from the sea, for there was only one source for this brilliant colour – the secretions of a specific gland of the unfortunate sea snail called the Murex brandaris. Whether the discovery was Hercules’s dog or the Minoans as archaeological evidence suggests, it was an immediate success with the power elite of emperors, kings, and clergy. And if the Minoan theory is correct, Tryian purple has been around for at least 3500 years. Purple has never gone out of style, gracing the toga wear of the Roman Republic, the mosaics of the Emperor Justinian in Ravenna, and the haute contour designs on the runways of Paris.
Purple includes a range of hues that occur between red and blue. We experience purple through our senses – the heady juice of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, the pleasantly bitter taste of eggplants, and the sweetness of ripe plums. We admire the delicate majesty of amethyst and linger over gardens filled with fuchsia and azaleas. Nature, with her infinite generosity, continues to bring colour to our world. As John Keats, once wrote, “The poetry of the earth is never dead.”
“If we surrendered to earth’s intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees.”
Rainer Maria Rilke, Rainer Maria Rilke’s the Book of Hours: A New Translation with Commentary
Lady Budd 
What a sublime last quote, says she, who has chosen to wear her favourite amethyst ring today. I must have sensed the colour of your post would be purple, like your beautiful scarf.
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I often think of this poem – Warning, by Jenny Joseph. In fact, on the day that I left my career behind, I went out and bought a purple cloak! I love wearing it!!
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.
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Learn to spit! And I love that you bought a purple cloak, says she, who is wearing her purple shirt today 🙂
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Did you know that there is a Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest? I learn something new every day. I think I’ll just settle for wearing purple…
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I did not know but I am not surprised. Watermelon seed spitting contests were part of the joy of eating watermelons in my childhood.
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If you enter the contest, I will too!!! 🙂
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Purple (in most of its various shades from lavender to aubergine) is my favorite color. 🙂
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I have always thought that you came from royalty :)!!! You have a remarkable way of understanding the nuances of life and highlighting then for all to enjoy!!! I just bought a purple cloak. When I fling it over my shoulders I having a tingling feeling that something exciting is going to happen.
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A cloak? Sounds more like a cape to me. Exciting things happen when you wear a cape. Uh huh.
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I went back to the closet and put on my cloak. Indeed, you are absolutely correct! It is a cape! I even checked by standing in front of a fan to have it flow out behind me…
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You need a GIF image of that to post on your blog sidebar!
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I will do that!!!! Your comments and presence make my day pure sunshine….
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Fascinating……….Beautiful shot as usual! Ciao Rebecca!
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And to think that you are now in the lands of the ancients as you write your comments!!!! I am so glad that you are finding a way to connect with us! I feel the warmth of colour and sunshine coming through your posts. 🙂
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Great post, lovely lifetime quotes as usual … and looking at your photo, I think purple is a big compliment to you, makes you glow!
Have a lovely day, Rebecca.
Greetings from the Far North, the country of red-white-blue
Dina
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Thank you!!! I was thinking of you when I included the last quote! I am going to look up what the red, white, blue signify. You have just given me a new project!!! Many hugs!!!!
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Purple from the lives of little sea snails, truly priceless. And, let us not forget the pure white of pearls from another sea creature.
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White and purple – a perfect combination!!! Our world keeps giving and giving….
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No wonder that purple is the colour of royalty, Rebecca. My mom loves wearing purple. 🙂
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What a wonderful sentiment! I can only imagine how wonderful your mother is! You have her genes! And you are amazing!
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Yes, my mom is very special indeed. 🙂 Thank you for your kind comment.
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My pleasure! It is simply the truth…. 🙂
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Purple has always been one of my favourite colours and supposed to be a little lucky for me!
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I was knew you were lucky! Your path is always leading you to some intriguing destination. I am just lucky that I can tag along….:)
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Such a lovely post Rebecca.
I’ve worn a lot of purple since I was young, but now in my seventies, it seems rather aging… too old lady-ish, so I wear aubergine with different shades of deep red and wine colours…mixing them up seems less purple!!!
A favourite purple top was embroidered with turquoise.. they looked wonderful together…
in fact there are so many colours that look wonderful with purple if one is brave !
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When I was young, I was told that since I had red hair I should only wear green. It was the dictates of style at the time! Now, I find that green and purple are an excellent combination. You are right there are many combinations. As for bravery – my dear friend, you are the bravest person I know. You go where angels fear to tread…. 🙂
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Thank you Rebecca for your amazing bouquet which I’m not sure that I deserve..
.I suppose those were the days when blue and green should never be seen !!
I think people with red hair look absolutely amazing in red !!!!
Have always longed for red hair and green eyes!!! – so Pre-Raphaelite and romantic, lucky Rebecca !!!
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I never thought about the Pre-Raphaelites. You just made my day. You continue to inspire and challenge, my dear friend. Have a wonderful weekend!!!!
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