IN ANCIENT TIMES, TYRIAN PURPLE DYE WAS MORE VALUABLE THAN GOLD......WHICH, OF COURSE, PURVEYED HIGH STATUS TO THOSE WHO WORE TOGAS OF THAT COLOR... CITIZENS OF LOWER THAN 'NOBLE STATUS' COULD BE HEAVILY FINED....OR EXECUTED FOR 'TREASON'...JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE WEARING 'THE COLOR'...
TODAY, THE COLOR PURPLE IS NOT AS VALUED, SINCE PURPLE DYE CAN BE EXTRACTED FROM A COMMON DALIA OR ANY OF DOZEN OF OTHER SOURCES...... IF I COULD 'GO BACK IN TIME' TO ANCIENT ATHENS, WITH MY $12 BASKET OF GAUZY CHIFFON, I COULD TRADE THE FABRIC, THAT I GOT FROM A FABRIC STORE CLOSE-OUT SALE, IN A STRIP MALL, FOR A VILLA, A DOZEN PERSONAL SLAVES, 2 DOGS, A HUNDRED JUGS OF WINE, A COUPLE OF HARLOTS, AND A BOX OF GOLD JEWELRY......
