Plin. l. 9. c. 36. Idem, l. 9. c. 38. ארגמן Argaman. Πορφύρος, ἀμόργη. Suidas. Plin. l. 9. c. 41.PURPLE, the Colour of Purple; in Hebrew, Argaman, in Greek, Porphyros, in Latin, Purpura. The Greeks also made use of the Word Amorge, which is derived from the Hebrew Argaman. ‘Tis thought that the fine purple Colour was first invented by Hercules Tyrius, whose Dog by chance having eaten a Shell-fish call’d Murex, or Purpura, and returning to his Master with his Lips tinged with a purple Colour, gave occasion to the Discovery of this fine and precious Dye. But sure it is, that Purple is much more antient than Hercules, since we find it mentioned by Moses in several Places; except under the Name of Hercules, the Tyrians mean some very antient Hero, whom the Greeks afterwards confounded with others. However this be, the Colour of Purple was of a very deep Red, and at the same time soft and shining. Pliny compares it to the Colour of a Rose, which makes some approach to a black Colour. Nigricantis rosæ colore sublucens: Or, of coagulated Blood drawing towards Black, the Red of which has a soft kind of shining. Concreti sanguinis nigricans aspectu, idemque suspectu refulgens. Purple was of more Sorts than one. One was deeper, drawing towards Violet, mingled with a little Red, which was the Ground of it. The other was of a deep Red, but shining, as coagulated Blood. Another more faint, pretty near as our Scarlet. They pretended that the true Purple should strike the Sight mildly and agreeably, in a manner not so forcibly as the Carbuncle. Aspectu leniter blandum, neque in oculos ut carbunculi vibrat.
Jerem. x. 9. Baruc. vi. 12, 71. Judg. viii. 26. Prov. xxxi. 22. Luk. xvi. 19.Moses made use of much Wool of a purple Colour in the Works of the Tabernacle, and in the Ornaments of the High-priest. Purple was the Colour made use of by Princes and great Men, by way of Distinction. In the Book of Judges it is observed, that they made Gideon a Present of the purple Habit, which the Kings of Midian used to wear. The Spouse of the Virtuous Woman was cloathed with Silk and Purple. The wicked rich Man of the Gospel, was cloathed in Purple and fine Linen. We see by Jeremiah and Baruch, that the Babylonians put upon their Idols Habits of a purple and azure Colour. When Daniel had explain’d the Writing that God caused to appear to Belshazzar, while he was making his impious Feast at Babylon; he (Daniel) was cloathed in Purple, and Dan. v. 7.adorn’d with a Chain of Gold. Alexander Balas King of Syria, sent to Jonathan Maccabeus, a Crown of Gold, and a Habit of Purple, allowing him to take the Title of the King’s Friend. Lastly, to make the Royalty 1 Macc. x. 20.of our Saviour ridiculous and contemptible, they cloathed him with a purple Robe at the Mark xv. 17. Matth. xxvii. 28.time of his Passion.