Why Tyrian Purple Dye Is So Expensive | So Expensive | Insider Business

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  • Опубліковано 20 січ 2023
  • Making authentic Tyrian purple dye starts with extracting a murex snail gland. After a series of painstaking steps, Tunisian dye maker Mohamed Ghassen Nouira turns as much as 45 kilograms of snails into a single gram of pure Tyrian purple extract. When he's done, he can sell it for $2,700. Some retailers sell a gram of the pigment for over $3,000. In comparison, 5 grams of synthetic Tyrian purple costs under $4.
    So, why is real Tyrian purple so hard to make? And is that why it's so expensive?
    Mohamed Ghassen Nouira's website: www.argamanou.com/
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    Why Tyrian Purple Dye Is So Expensive | So Expensive | Insider Business

КОМЕНТАРІ • 2,1 тис.

  • @truthhurts6775
    @truthhurts6775 Рік тому +4947

    Is it me or was anyone expecting that accent of the guy making the purple 🟣?

    • @Kevin-is-here
      @Kevin-is-here Рік тому +79

      Subtitles 😂

    • @wahyuandrey
      @wahyuandrey Рік тому +455

      Sounds like American to me...

    • @majie1018
      @majie1018 Рік тому +425

      Actually it was shocking but I think he was born there and probably grew up either in the States or UK then moved back after he figured out he can do this! My guess!

    • @itwasaliens
      @itwasaliens Рік тому +52

      Definitely has an accent.

    • @cowlord98
      @cowlord98 Рік тому +505

      Yeah I was ready to hear some arabic and see subtitles, but this guy sounds like he could be my neighbor

  • @KateCarew
    @KateCarew Рік тому +117

    I wish people heard the final words “the main concern should always be to preserve the species because if there’s no murex there’s no dye”
    So all the folks attacking him…please stop.
    He’s an artisan, this is cultural preservation.

  • @somegenXdude
    @somegenXdude Рік тому +625

    To teach yourself a craft that essentially resurrects a product that was virtually extinct is pretty amazing, and the passion and morals behind it have to be recognized.
    I'm a tradesman myself, so I really admire and appreciate a master in their craft. I don't think much of the colour (just my opinion), but big props to your work.
    Just my 2cents.

    • @tuvoca825
      @tuvoca825 Рік тому +3

      The history and context are pretty amazing. It used to be used in so many cultures including Solomon's temple (as we often call it in English).

    • @UltimaOnlineAlpha
      @UltimaOnlineAlpha Рік тому

      There will always be world wars so long as people are too busy being barbarians to spend time considering the morality of their actions.

    • @marzipanmerci1068
      @marzipanmerci1068 Рік тому

      That moral is to envied for! May God bless him and you always!

    • @UltimaOnlineAlpha
      @UltimaOnlineAlpha Рік тому

      @@marzipanmerci1068 God doesn't bless evil

    • @annalynsaysgoodnight
      @annalynsaysgoodnight Рік тому +4

      @@UltimaOnlineAlpha What are you on about? God blesses all and continues to. People decide whether to recognise that or not. That's the point. Literally shut up.

  • @ghassennouira2301
    @ghassennouira2301 Рік тому +646

    Over the years l learned to use Murex meat in so many ways! Grilled, boiled, steamed, fried or sauted it's an amazing treat packed with vitamins and proteins! I wish we could find the time to figure out all the different uses of our food (seeds, peels, shells, leaves...) . If we manage to re-use half of our daily waste the world would have been a much better place

    • @hr-g4640
      @hr-g4640 Рік тому +7

      the rise of acids in the ocean affects shellfish first, they are the most vulnerable to it because acids reduce the levels of calcium in the ocean water which shellfish use to grow their shells, so anything that rises thw acid levels in the ocean will affect the shellfish directly

    • @selfreflection2117
      @selfreflection2117 Рік тому +12

      I went to your website and Facebook page. Your work is beautiful.

    • @firstpersonwinner7404
      @firstpersonwinner7404 Рік тому +3

      This is such a cool process. Really wish I could afford something you made. Maybe I'll try to save for my wife someday

    • @rahmakacem2209
      @rahmakacem2209 Рік тому +2

      We appreciate your hard work and dedication to reviving this tradition ❤️❤️

    • @PhuongLe-ef7mw
      @PhuongLe-ef7mw Рік тому +1

      I like the video and it is very impressive. Can you try grilling Murex meat with hot oil mix green onion hot oil sauce and roasted peanuts on top? I make sure you will like it. :))

  • @ghassennouira2301
    @ghassennouira2301 Рік тому +2191

    Again thanks for your nice comments and God have mercy on those who keep accusing without having a single clue about my actual dyeing work or intentions!
    I hope this message gets to most viewers since l am not going to spend my time justifying my actions to people who aren't even ready to listen!
    Again, more than 90% of the Murex l use are naturally trapped in fishermen nets and that are otherwise either consumed by the fishermen themselves or sold to local seafood restaurants so basically most of the Murex l am using are not caught specifically for dyeing purposes exception made of the small portion caught by the divers.
    On the other hands and as mentioned earlier, l respect the seasons and sort the snails by size before processing them. Moreover, l naturally consume these mollusks like so many Tunisians l just make sure not to waste the dye. Also all the other parts of the snail are recycled, shells are turned into lime, opercula as incense fixative and even the guts are processed into garum while hundreds of thousands of tons of other marine creatures are harvested every year in the whole world for meat consumption only while the rest of the creature is dumped and nobody seems to care!!
    My work extends over 15 years and no harm has ever been caused to the local Murex which is more abundant than ever here!
    Let me remind those who are appalled by the use of a natural ingredient to produce a colorant and prefer replicating it chemically that synthetic dyeing is the world's most polluting industry harming millions of living beings every year so l wonder who the real assassins are!
    Finally you can continue calling me names such killer, murderer, psycho, criminal or whatever your mind dictates to you to say without even making the effort to dig further and learn more about my work l honestly don't care because l have total peace of mind about what l am doing and l will definitely not spend my life justifying my actions to people who's only concern is to accuse others without even listening to the other side.
    Keep in mind that prejudice is ignorance so may God lead us all to the light!
    A big thanks again to all the supporters from all over the world 🌎

    • @takarifsalafiya
      @takarifsalafiya Рік тому +10

      🇹🇳 🇹🇳🇹🇳🇹🇳👍

    • @thinking_toomuch
      @thinking_toomuch Рік тому +141

      You are clearly very compassionate and well educated person. Don't let anyone make you think otherwise!💜

    • @atlasbees
      @atlasbees Рік тому +86

      Some people just spend too much online and take it out on others, don't listen to them your work is valuable and it's great that they have multiple uses

    • @goranjosic
      @goranjosic Рік тому +63

      Hi man, why are you trying to justify yourself to internet trolls who have no better business to leave negative comments on purpose. Enjoy your work and don't pay attention! :)
      Considering you're reviving a craft that died out with the Byzantine Empire, and it is dead for hundreds of years, I think that's a lot more important than a bunch of snails, even if you throw away everything after removing the gland!!
      When you start explaining and justifying what you are doing, the beasts smell the blood and get even worse with comments - so don't pay attention 😄
      _If I have few thousand Euros to spare, I would definitely order 1 gram of dye from you, just to have it around, in my possession_ 😄

    • @geiabarrido8675
      @geiabarrido8675 Рік тому +6

      💜💜💜

  • @dahaniffer
    @dahaniffer Рік тому +764

    I am a Tunisian artist and I am happy to see you posting about Tunisian art and we need to see more episodes from the locals because this place is swimming in under valued art in all forms and it will be cool to show it to the world

    • @UltimaOnlineAlpha
      @UltimaOnlineAlpha Рік тому

      F Tunisian art this is animal cruelty give your head a shake

    • @dahaniffer
      @dahaniffer Рік тому

      @@UltimaOnlineAlpha I was talking about artist not about this guy. they should focus on them more not on this type of content . I agree with you it's a rare species and they should not use them with that massive amount .

    • @irenedhakde4692
      @irenedhakde4692 Рік тому +5

      Exactement! Je me réjouis de découvrir l'art tunisien. Des pigments naturels, mais quel rêve pour un artiste! Faire ses propres couleurs...
      And I am so glad that Tunisians are chosing English at school over French (although my mothertongue is French), or learning English as well as French. Let's all go global! I would love to learn Arabic too, so much culture and history... I just know a few words unfortunately and a few yummy cooking recipes...
      Love from a Swiss living in Mumbai to all my Tunisian brothers and sisters!

    • @ghassennouira2301
      @ghassennouira2301 Рік тому +8

      @@dahaniffer who told you it is rare? It is not as long as we don't over harvest them! Moreover I am not massively using them, my work extended over 16 years so no harm is ever caused to the local Murex population...l honestly believe that mussels, shrimps, cuttlefish and octopus are far more threatened than Murex because of the year long over fishing that nobody seems to worry about yet when "this guy" manages to revive a 4000 years old craft by making a good use of some part of a snail that is going to be consumed anyway so many animal advocates pop up to call "this guy" a serial killer!
      Prejudice is ignorance!

    • @insekta1701
      @insekta1701 Рік тому +1

      @@ghassennouira2301 I thought the video on this process is very cool, as well as the painstakingly long process to make the dye. I’m an artist, and I took fresco painting in collage and got to see raw pigment and use them, and I would have loved to use this Tyrian purple pigment. I also believe in the ancestors and continuing to, or reviving our people’s valuable old traditions in this modern and cynical age. Beautiful purple! I was glad to hear that the crushed snails are also used in meals. Long love Tyrian purple production!

  • @wafu6058
    @wafu6058 Рік тому +370

    It makes me immensely happy to see he is doing this sustainably and minimising as much waste as possible. His comment somewhere in this section highlights how he has kept an eye on the local species population and that its been stable if not better, that he ensures every part of the snail gets used in other industry and/or for consumption.

    • @UltimaOnlineAlpha
      @UltimaOnlineAlpha Рік тому +7

      Wait until you learn about animal cruelty and indifference. These things shouldn't make you happy at all.

    • @emranrakib8852
      @emranrakib8852 Рік тому +1

      What are you talking about?

    • @sylasviper715
      @sylasviper715 10 місяців тому +4

      @@UltimaOnlineAlpha Rather have animals suffer than humans.

    • @synical13
      @synical13 9 місяців тому +1

      @@UltimaOnlineAlpha Isn't there a tree somewhere that needs a hug?

    • @UltimaOnlineAlpha
      @UltimaOnlineAlpha 9 місяців тому

      @@synical13 there are many

  • @lilq4593
    @lilq4593 Рік тому +91

    I appreciate that he uses the entire snail! I also appreciate that he cares about the snails not becoming over harvested. Natural dyes are extremely interesting to me! The work put into this process is commendable!!

  • @bernieboo7637
    @bernieboo7637 Рік тому +516

    I remember learning about this dye and it's making from "sea snails" from my HS World History class. I was taught by a Nun who wanted us to be as fascinated by all of the little fun tidbits of history as she was. She would be so pleased to know you are bringing this back to life. Bless you Sir, and God Rest you Sister Adele.

    • @varunrajgor
      @varunrajgor Рік тому +17

      I'm pretty sure she's saying Hello from the other side...

    • @master_wu708
      @master_wu708 Рік тому +5

      @@varunrajgor That was a good one

    • @BorneoViking
      @BorneoViking Рік тому +5

      @@SyCoREAPER athoids moment ...

    • @varunrajgor
      @varunrajgor Рік тому

      @@master_wu708 thank you, her message needs to be delivered. Afterall, she must've called a thousand times...

    • @Dolbic.
      @Dolbic. Рік тому

      the thing is, sometimes people need to get over stuff like this, they haven't mentioned the difference between real and synthetic dye of this color, which takes me to the point: why all that? why would someone other than fanatic color collector would want this?
      And I don't get why would someone bring things back to life, sometimes its better to let the dead rest as well, as long he is happy I guess that's all what matter, but if he is pushing it, then its a lost cause for sure.

  • @GeniusFinds
    @GeniusFinds Рік тому +623

    I was not expecting him to sound so american

    • @bjrnnrjb2898
      @bjrnnrjb2898 Рік тому +64

      Because most probably he is, lots of Tunisians go back home from the U.S to start businesses.

    • @2degucitas
      @2degucitas Рік тому +26

      @@Simplynova69 Ummm, no. Def American accent.

    • @BandlerChing
      @BandlerChing Рік тому +20

      @@yayapoet7862Americans have never been named Mohammad😂

    • @2degucitas
      @2degucitas Рік тому +17

      @@yayapoet7862 yes, but his ACCENT is American.

    • @briannadickson2884
      @briannadickson2884 Рік тому +3

      @@yayapoet7862 Are you acting dumb on purpose? Maybe I missed the joke. I apologize if I did. Maybe you were intoxicated when you made that comment. Who knows!

  • @kevincomair5657
    @kevincomair5657 Рік тому +20

    Tyrian purple originates from the Phoenician city Tyr (today located in Lebanon). Phoenicians from Tyr, led by a princess forced to exile, founded the city of Carthage (today located in Tunisia). I didn't know that craftsmen are still using these ancestral techniques to produce this beautiful color ... it's great to see ... Thank you Ghassen !

    • @ferretyluv
      @ferretyluv 2 місяці тому +1

      And Phoenicia is basically Greek for “land of the purple.”

  • @juan-carlosgonzalez3738
    @juan-carlosgonzalez3738 Рік тому +110

    Thank you Insider for this amazing documentary, and kudos to both Slim and Ghassen for keeping this dye making process alive.

  • @Marvee78
    @Marvee78 Рік тому +781

    I remember reading about tyrion purple in the Roman empire and that it disappeared when the empire fell in my history textbook in high school. So glad it has been brought back. This is one of those things that will stay small scale and niche. That is a good thing in this case. Conservation and responsible production should go hand in hand.

    • @rafaelperalta1676
      @rafaelperalta1676 Рік тому +14

      I agree. Conservation and responsible prod is the way to go, as it should be. 😁

    • @xCeL46
      @xCeL46 Рік тому

      Snails only worth

    • @Michael-hb3ip
      @Michael-hb3ip Рік тому +4

      You read?

    • @misterhat5823
      @misterhat5823 Рік тому +7

      Responsible production would be to produce none.

    • @lcplapiata5501
      @lcplapiata5501 Рік тому +8

      Romans took over the purple dye trade after they conquered Carthage, who were the descendants of the Phoncieans. Carthaginian Officer's would often Don a Barbary lion pelt an purple cloak to distinguish their rank. Evidence has been uncovered by coin's discovered at the battle of Zama North Africa, along with bronze Curass an Falcatas.

  • @nerd26373
    @nerd26373 Рік тому +444

    The Tyrian purple looks absolutely stunning. Seems like the workers are dedicated through and through.

    • @xCeL46
      @xCeL46 Рік тому +4

      snails only deserve death anyways

    • @olliemaller
      @olliemaller Рік тому +13

      @@xCeL46 they are snails bro

    • @mystic_galaxies9832
      @mystic_galaxies9832 Рік тому +3

      @@xCeL46 what did those poor snails do to you?

    • @AdarshMadrecha
      @AdarshMadrecha Рік тому +2

      What about Snails? Just for Human's sake of amusement, we would kill poor creatures?

    • @_Lan
      @_Lan Рік тому

      @@AdarshMadrechaamusement. Lol

  • @patrickdean4853
    @patrickdean4853 Рік тому +77

    It’s always such a pleasure to find someone that takes joy in their craft

  • @vincem4756
    @vincem4756 Рік тому +30

    Nothing but respect for his hard work and beautiful craft. Natural dyes are superior. Cancer rates are skyrocketing, and it's because we are using synthetic cheap barely regulated products on ourselves. People used these natural dyes for hundreds if not thousands of years. As long as it's sustainable (and it appears to be), I'm all for it. The respect he has and the fact he uses every part is awesome to me. I hope he flourishes 😊and teaches more people so this unique way of making dye continues on. ❤

    • @ghassennouira2301
      @ghassennouira2301 Рік тому +3

      Thank you so much for your support, l really appreciate it ❤

  • @kinglouisinguito2912
    @kinglouisinguito2912 Рік тому +288

    Its so amazing how early people discover they can produce such a beautiful color dye from shell gland. True amazing

    • @marcuslinton310
      @marcuslinton310 Рік тому +8

      Like most things, it was simply by chance. Guy was walking his dog on the beach, the dog started chewing on something and it's face got stained in purple. The guy obviously examined what the dog was eating and figured it out.

    • @MoonLight-tn4xe
      @MoonLight-tn4xe Рік тому +13

      It's cruelty

    • @marcuslinton310
      @marcuslinton310 Рік тому +24

      @@MoonLight-tn4xe He eats the snails, it's no different then any other animal food source where non edible parts of the animal are used to make other things.

    • @marcuslinton310
      @marcuslinton310 Рік тому +5

      @@maybemints They literally said they manage them.

    • @voidLogicx
      @voidLogicx Рік тому

      @@andreaabestano2158 ignorant

  • @LauraS1
    @LauraS1 Рік тому +122

    I haven't used animal-based dyes but I'm pretty good at using vegetable dyes. You can get a shade of purple that's close to Tyrian purple using Brazilwood (hot pink), Logwood (bluish purple but mostly blue), and Madder (bright red) but it's a little duller in color; not nearly as magnificent and vibrant as real Tyrian purple. It's been awhile since I experimented with purples. My thing of late is extracting the four different pigments from safflower petals. There are two yellows and two red/pinks and each requires a different extraction technique. Dyeing stuff with natural materials is fascinating.

    • @elenalizabeth
      @elenalizabeth Рік тому +7

      I think indigo dye mixed with beetroot or something else with a bright red would mix together to create a nice purple shade too?
      I’ve only played around with common plants natural dyes, mostly ones like purple cabbage, turmeric, carrot and beetroot.

    • @kneau
      @kneau Рік тому +6

      I appreciate both the comment & reply above me. That said, I wonder what the stats are w/ regard to how long the dye - lets say, when used in powder form - lasts before fading? Well, I now know what I'll be reading up on.

    • @elenalizabeth
      @elenalizabeth Рік тому +7

      @@kneau if you use a mordant or dye fixative, then you can get natural dyes to last a very long time, though they may fade more easily if they are left in the sun or are washed on hot.
      However as natural dyes have to be used on natural fibres (cotton, hemp, wool, linen, etc) in order for the dye to fix, it is reliant on that fabric also not breaking down over time.
      However synthetic dyes can be used on synthetic fabrics, which means that even in 100 years, those synthetic dyed plastic clothing will still be around, but the natural dyed natural fibres will have disintegrated by then.

    • @LauraS1
      @LauraS1 Рік тому +3

      @@elenalizabeth I've never had success with beets as a dye plant. They'll stain your counters and your kitchen sink but for some reason they won't stain wool. Purple cabbage makes a lovely robin's egg blue and is great for dyeing Easter eggs. You can use woad and madder to make a purple but always dye your madder first (red). Woad and indigo both are difficult to work with to achieve an even dye job. That's one reason why your jeans are kind of mottled, even the really dark blue ones. They're all dyed with indigo. There are other blues but right now, it's past midnight and my brain went to sleep. LOL

    • @elenalizabeth
      @elenalizabeth Рік тому +2

      @@LauraS1 I used beets by just grating them up into a pulp, boiling that in a large pot of water, then putting the item in the boiling water along with the fixative (I can’t remember what it was but I had to add a lot of salt too).
      I was dying pure cotton fabric, so I don’t know how it would go on wool as it needs a different kind of mordant and I’m too lazy to make that haha

  • @RaffaelloLorenzusSayde
    @RaffaelloLorenzusSayde Рік тому +9

    This is a culture of the Carthaginians and Phoenicians. If you people don't like the idea, mind your own business. He could farm these snails, but he probably needs the money to make a farming of these shells possible.

  • @glorygloryholeallelujah
    @glorygloryholeallelujah Рік тому +9

    Purple is my favorite color - so seeing it created through its ancient natural process, was really fascinating!❤

  • @kocabash
    @kocabash Рік тому +116

    This particular documentary were felt like a journey to me it was amazing. Like eating a extraordinary food from a famous chef and having an endless aftertaste in your mouth. Thanks a lot crew.

  • @gellichan09
    @gellichan09 Рік тому +78

    it's amazing how high level of expertise and skill this craft needs and even more amazing that he figured it out himself after the craft has already been lost! i do hope this craft won't disappear seeing as it's very niche. I hope he'll have apprentices that are as passionate about this as he is.

    • @tenziicjchoe8193
      @tenziicjchoe8193 Рік тому +1

      It's not amazing it's cruelty to animals

    • @TalEdds
      @TalEdds Рік тому +1

      @@tenziicjchoe8193 Oh shut up. Go stop all the huge farms and factories killing cows and chickens first, before berating a single man who is sustainably doing his craft.

    • @v.g7279
      @v.g7279 Рік тому

      @@tenziicjchoe8193 THANK YOUUUUUU.

  • @Ab3ndcgi
    @Ab3ndcgi Рік тому +7

    As a painter that is allways experimenting with traditional and natural based dyes, I found your work trully inspiring and enlightening, and I wish people where able to diferenttiate between vocation and passion un preserving knowledge, from industrial exolotation

  • @andresmaynez3060
    @andresmaynez3060 Рік тому +40

    In Mexico we have a another species of mollusk that creates a purple dye, the difference is that we don’t have to kill the mollusk for the dye. It creates a different Shade of purple from the tyrian purple

    • @loistverberg900
      @loistverberg900 Рік тому

      They said that there were tree strains of snails that each produce a slightly different color, so it makes sense that the ones in your area make a related color.

    • @andresmaynez3060
      @andresmaynez3060 Рік тому

      @@loistverberg900 I know right, I just searched about it and there is actually four types of snails that produce colour. Two in the mediterranean that produce different purple dyes. One in the canary islands that makes a red dye. And one that can be found in the pacific ocean from mexico to Peru that makes a purple dye.

    • @Closerline
      @Closerline Рік тому

      @@andresmaynez3060 oh yeah! I've read about those before. If i remember correctly the step is to blow air gently into the snail so it'll come out, then you can extract the dye. Fascinating stuffs.

  • @masonkim7
    @masonkim7 Рік тому +21

    1:34 didn't expect him to talk like that!
    what a pleasant surprise! haha

  • @malachiroberts6198
    @malachiroberts6198 Рік тому +14

    I actually learned about this in an ancient history class because purple dye was so rare it needed this context for some events.

    • @vanillaicecream2385
      @vanillaicecream2385 Рік тому

      purple was the colour of royalty, it was so expensive and so hard to produce only kings could have deep purple clothing, other royalty had to have lighter shades due to how little dye they could afford

  • @stardresser1
    @stardresser1 Рік тому +20

    Amazing! As someone who has done a LOT of dying fabrics, I can appreciate this incredible ancient craft. Fascinating.

  • @sinslang890
    @sinslang890 Рік тому +4

    Started in Lebanese and brought over by the Phonecians who became Carthaginians in Tunisia. GLad to see our other Arabian brothers in Tunisia still doing it.

  • @piplup10203854
    @piplup10203854 Рік тому +16

    The color of Tyrian Purple is absolutely stunning though, it's so vibrant. That's a ton of work though.

  • @chinupduck4849
    @chinupduck4849 Рік тому +5

    Thank you for reviving this art as well as saving this species and those that depend on them.

  • @NoName-hi7qo
    @NoName-hi7qo Рік тому +6

    Historically, I appreciate the value of it.
    All fabric looked pre used and bleed out.
    Rather let down in the expectation of something grand & worthy of nobility.

    • @ghassennouira2301
      @ghassennouira2301 Рік тому +4

      Not at all! The dyed fibers are richly colored and absolutely colorfast but the light wasn't right and the camera did not capture the right hues at all!

  • @tristancreed
    @tristancreed Рік тому +13

    I remember this topic from our history class. For starters, we found out that goods like authentic purple dye and saffron always cost at least twice if not thrice the weight of gold.

  • @SirMaze1
    @SirMaze1 Рік тому +54

    Interesting to see what David Blaine is up to in his free time

    • @Realzamesta88
      @Realzamesta88 Рік тому

      😂 I kept thinking he looked familiar but couldn’t pinpoint it.

    • @Fishbone4u
      @Fishbone4u Рік тому

      Thought the exact same thing...funny!

  • @purbanjalidas6449
    @purbanjalidas6449 Рік тому +36

    💜 love how elaborate this vibrant color processing is! Conservation of these wonderful 🐌snails are first priority always...

  • @davidareeves
    @davidareeves Рік тому +7

    Many thanks, as a kid I loved to read history, Tyrian dye was one of those things that sparked even more interest in more history. Like any art form, it takes time, patience on both sides, either the creator and or the viewer. Seeing shades of a hand made colour lets the mind wonder naturally as well.
    After watching this, brought back memories as well of a friend who could not afford her own paints, so learned how to make her own colours, many years later people would always simply ask why. Those that understood would just laugh and reply, so you're not an artist, what do you do....

  • @mysticjoy2924
    @mysticjoy2924 Рік тому +2

    Amazing I love the fact that you keep it small ,this is very special and not to be exploited ..so I salute you in keeping it that way !! Simply Beautiful 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜

  • @GQUATTRADITIONZS
    @GQUATTRADITIONZS Рік тому +13

    This process is so amazing. Purple and INDIGOES have always been my Fave colors. 💜💜💜

  • @MrLeemurman
    @MrLeemurman Рік тому +17

    Thanks Mohamed, for carrying on our ancestor's craft. From a Lebanese cousin!

  • @danielventura7310
    @danielventura7310 6 місяців тому +2

    Those are very elegant colors. Even today is not common to find clothe with those colors, in my whole life I just had less than 10 pieces of clothing in those colors.

  • @nottellinnoone2074
    @nottellinnoone2074 7 місяців тому +2

    Thank you for keeping history alive . I absolutely love that colour

  • @Catwoman1464
    @Catwoman1464 Рік тому +33

    I remember there being an ancient law that allowed women to get divorced from their husband if he was a pigment producer, because the process was so smelly.

    • @alidapurdy
      @alidapurdy Рік тому +10

      The historical documentation about making the purple and indigo dyes always mention the horrid smell. Some believe that the Romans considered that smell as a status symbol bc it further proved they were using only the "best" dyes. While it's absolutely beautiful, I don't think I could get passed any lingering odor. 🤣

    • @MoonLight-tn4xe
      @MoonLight-tn4xe Рік тому

      Indigo dye comes from leaves and it has no smell

    • @biguattipoptropica
      @biguattipoptropica Рік тому +2

      @@MoonLight-tn4xe the way they dyed it involved urine

  • @mikage06
    @mikage06 Рік тому +43

    It is one of the pigments I wanted and would love to learn how to make even if it’s hard to make. According to history Tyrian purple is so unique and rare.

    • @iroh9816
      @iroh9816 Рік тому +1

      As far as I know even Julius Caesar wore clothing dyed in Tyrian Purple at his triumphs

  • @scottprather5645
    @scottprather5645 Рік тому +22

    What an amazing ancient craft!
    Also glad you recognize the need to maintain a sustainability of the snails

  • @dostagirl9551
    @dostagirl9551 Рік тому +30

    As a seafood enthusiast who loves mollusks, it’s good to know that the rest of the snail is consumed. 😊

    • @ZieSpiralOut
      @ZieSpiralOut Рік тому +5

      That was the first question I had… glad to know that is the case…

  • @MyAngelina123
    @MyAngelina123 Рік тому +3

    Loved the video. Keep 'em coming 💜💜

  • @susansage7218
    @susansage7218 Рік тому +3

    Amazing how someone figured out this gland in this snail turned into this dye.

  • @PandoraKyss
    @PandoraKyss 6 місяців тому +2

    Tyrian Purple is my favorite color. I've loved purple since my earliest years of life and Tyrian has such a mystique to it, worn by royals and legends, and the curiosity of who the first person was to figure this out. I know the legend involving Heracles, but the reality of it is so interesting.

    • @learnwithibra
      @learnwithibra 3 місяці тому

      Fun fact; The legend involving herakles (hercules) was in fact regarding the pheonician god Melqart and his dog that the greeks attributed to herakles.

  • @KiyokaMakibi
    @KiyokaMakibi Рік тому +4

    Beautiful purple. Also, that’s some patience the guy has! Serious respect!

  • @amgguy4319
    @amgguy4319 Рік тому +3

    This is a stunningly amazing presentation. Absolutely unbelievable. Crazy unbelievable. Seriously, I can't believe it. Kings wore purple.

  • @djsun1
    @djsun1 Рік тому +16

    wow, great video, loved the history lesson and very interesting why purple is related to the upper echelon

  • @fouadhoblos3611
    @fouadhoblos3611 Рік тому +3

    I'm Lebanese.. this person took me too to my bronze age roots!

  • @jocelynleung7480
    @jocelynleung7480 Рік тому +3

    I thought this art had died out, glad to see it’s still alive.

  • @intellectual_69
    @intellectual_69 Рік тому +13

    Holy shit I did not expect his voice to sound like that

  • @bernardhsu8331
    @bernardhsu8331 Рік тому +12

    This guy speaks perfect English.

  • @Harry_Bahlzanya
    @Harry_Bahlzanya Рік тому +2

    Dope how the purple is a class and technique not just a single color using many ways to produce

  • @Elizabeth-yg2mg
    @Elizabeth-yg2mg Рік тому +1

    Can't believe your English is so perfect! The colors are gorgeous. You have a great life!

  • @arwa3ntar
    @arwa3ntar Рік тому +39

    Thats amazingly, the colour is so strong and powerful

    • @staywoke2198
      @staywoke2198 Рік тому +10

      It better be if you are commuting a snail genocide to make it

    • @DDRWakaLaka
      @DDRWakaLaka Рік тому +1

      So is the smell 😂

    • @biguattipoptropica
      @biguattipoptropica Рік тому

      @@staywoke2198 they eat the snails ???

  • @kisnpisn4919
    @kisnpisn4919 Рік тому +5

    this is fascinating! i love the shades of the dye.
    i can‘t remember where i read it, but there supposedly is a technique that keeps the snail alive and you can harvest more colour over time. the snail is brought to cough out the pigment. if i‘m not wrong that was the technique used in precolumbian mexico in the lower mixtec region.

  • @nancytestani1470
    @nancytestani1470 Рік тому +2

    Purple is such a beautiful, wonderful color..kudos!

  • @exzelzo
    @exzelzo Рік тому +2

    Always love this old method and ancient craft brought to life

  • @sleepycowboy18
    @sleepycowboy18 Рік тому +8

    Whats truly inspiring for me is he reconstructed a lost art from old texts, thats a feat on its own

  • @dynamitedingo7720
    @dynamitedingo7720 Рік тому +12

    Basically the harder it is to make something the more expensive it becomes, that is what I have learned from these videos

    • @junkyyard2273
      @junkyyard2273 Рік тому +3

      technique and ingredient availability are what makes something expensive and valuable.

    • @dynamitedingo7720
      @dynamitedingo7720 Рік тому

      @@junkyyard2273 so I’m right?

    • @junkyyard2273
      @junkyyard2273 Рік тому +1

      @@dynamitedingo7720
      mhm

  • @1uch1n11
    @1uch1n11 Рік тому

    Thank you for your service Mohammed

  • @DieCryRetry
    @DieCryRetry Рік тому +3

    Rare to see someone putting that much effort to revive something that has gone extinct for a while.

  • @lcplapiata5501
    @lcplapiata5501 Рік тому +9

    Fun fact: Carthaginian Officer's during the Punic wars, often wore purple cloaks over there bronze Curass, They also donned the now extinct Barbary lion pelt over their helms, in honour off their god patron Melqart.

  • @samblount2541
    @samblount2541 Рік тому +4

    This show is so cool, not just this episode.

  • @colbjallen8334
    @colbjallen8334 Рік тому +2

    This is truly amazing

  • @playlisttarmac
    @playlisttarmac Рік тому +6

    I hope and wish Tunisia all the best in preserving its unique purple history.

    • @hx0d
      @hx0d 5 місяців тому +2

      It's not unique to Tunisia, the video glosses over that for some reason. It originated in Phoenicia now Lebanon

    • @playlisttarmac
      @playlisttarmac 5 місяців тому +1

      @@hx0d Most UA-cam videos do gloss over facts. :)

  • @kuumih0
    @kuumih0 Рік тому +5

    glad to know the whole snail is used for other stuff. (similar to cows) and not just the gland only

  • @Name-se3xz
    @Name-se3xz Рік тому +5

    Not certain why I was disappointed learning there was no actual Tyrian purple; but that it can range between many shades.

  • @SJR_Media_Group
    @SJR_Media_Group Рік тому +2

    *_Traditional crafts are still important. Recently I saw another video about rare Red dyes._*
    When it takes 100 grams of rare snail gland to make 1 gram of pure Tyrian Purple Dye, and many laborious steps done entirely by hand, it is by definition rare and expensive. I hope Mohamed Ghassen makes a decent profit and that he has a long and bountiful life. He has taken a path very few other people have ever taken.
    *_There will always be a market for rare ingredients used in traditional crafts._*

  • @stephaniebaker2526
    @stephaniebaker2526 Рік тому +1

    Amazing video! Very interesting, informative and fun to watch. Plus, if the snails are cooked and eaten after, there's pretty much zero waste! (I'm sure they even find use for the shells!) Thank you for sharing this incredible process with the world!! 🙂❤

  • @zaitart8671
    @zaitart8671 Рік тому +68

    I am Proud Of You Mohammad Ghassan . Amazing . keep walk 🙏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

    • @Catwoman1464
      @Catwoman1464 Рік тому +5

      Me sitting on my couch covered in chips dust: you go Muhammed 👍

    • @saidjama9856
      @saidjama9856 Рік тому +1

      Keep on going Mohammad Ghassan. Great work!👍👏

  • @astoriarosewood5135
    @astoriarosewood5135 Рік тому +10

    This was incredibly interesting! Love this series

  • @Twinacuity
    @Twinacuity Рік тому

    Great video! Admirable man, G-d bless him 💛

  • @johannesswarts1440
    @johannesswarts1440 Рік тому

    and as far as the negative comments - ignore them. you've demonstrated that you are conscientious in the harvesting of the murex snails and nothing goes to waste (even garum!! :-)). you're someone to be emulated in your craft, not criticized or denigrated!

  • @grantopithecus5995
    @grantopithecus5995 Рік тому +10

    I was super worried about a gust of wind when he was scraping the powder on the roof glass!

  • @Pawzeez92
    @Pawzeez92 Рік тому +3

    That was so funny when he was racking out lines of dye on the table lmao

  • @FailsWork
    @FailsWork Рік тому

    That's amazingly, The color is so strong and powerful

  • @Northern_LAD
    @Northern_LAD Рік тому

    The term royal purple makes a bit more sense now. Amazing work.

  • @jarvisbrookfieldart
    @jarvisbrookfieldart Рік тому +263

    It’s a great colour and I understand the value that it brings to the artisans who are upholding a dying tradition. however, the sheer amount of snails to create such a small amount of the pigment is ridiculous and I’m much more for the synthetic version

    • @emerald39
      @emerald39 Рік тому +43

      Agreed, killing snails to make coloured powder is nonsensical

    • @Vodkanir
      @Vodkanir Рік тому +8

      @@emerald39 why is it nonsensical

    • @emerald39
      @emerald39 Рік тому

      @@Vodkanir how about if we killed you to make coloured powder?

    • @speedysunshine
      @speedysunshine Рік тому +34

      @@Vodkanir because LIFE OF ANY KIND is far more value than any item - do you really have to ask?

    • @vordt4139
      @vordt4139 Рік тому +63

      @@emerald39 He literally eats them.

  • @SubjectiveFunny
    @SubjectiveFunny Рік тому +8

    An amazing guy.
    Good for him.

  • @robertsadeghi4833
    @robertsadeghi4833 Рік тому +2

    I'm an artist and have always been fascinated by the history and evolution of pigments.
    You're accomplishments are extraordinary.
    What probably would be advantageous, though I'm not a marine biologist I do know that many civilizations artificially raise shellfish, clams, oysters, mussels, oysters for farm raised pearls, snails, and so on, with the help of chemists, marine biologists, and the technohnology involved in raising farm raised shellfish, it might just be possible to farm your own snails. Also geneticists can also or might be able to breed snails that can yield more dye, and bred for specific colors.
    Thank you for this opportunity to better understand this extradinary dye of antiquity.
    After all, where would humanity and civilization be without color?

  • @shannono8397
    @shannono8397 Рік тому +1

    Tyrian Purple couldn't have a more sincere and better Ambassador!
    I've loved the color for so long, watching this reallllly was impressive!
    The hues are so beautiful!!!

  • @Maduokesi
    @Maduokesi Рік тому +26

    He could probably sell the leftover purple dye on his fingernails for like $500

  • @noplansplease4345
    @noplansplease4345 Рік тому +4

    mohamed is amazing! makes me want to visit him and learn

  • @paperonthewall4526
    @paperonthewall4526 Рік тому

    Keep up the good work Mr Ghassen. ✌

  • @Blingling165
    @Blingling165 Рік тому +1

    I remember learning about this in high school so neat 👌

  • @alexny1173
    @alexny1173 Рік тому +43

    Really cool video! I kind of feel sorry for the snails but it’s very interesting see someone reviving and rediscovering the techniques of producing Tyrian purple and great that they are sensitive to the importance of their conservation.

    • @hadiseblani29
      @hadiseblani29 Рік тому +4

      I felt sorry but as long as the snails are being consumed, its alright

  • @tiberivsgracchvs2393
    @tiberivsgracchvs2393 Рік тому +3

    I had no idea that this was still made. Now I’m going to buy enough of this dye to make a sail purple and go around on a gilded barge dressed as Aphrodite like Cleopatra lol

  • @karenaouwad2697
    @karenaouwad2697 Рік тому

    Amazing video! Courage Ghassan vous êtes incroyable

  • @marcelovolcato8892
    @marcelovolcato8892 Рік тому

    Amazing dedication!

  • @melvin2894
    @melvin2894 Рік тому +3

    Very beautiful

  • @shikhab2250
    @shikhab2250 Рік тому +5

    It's nice to revive old culture specially something that was revered so highly in the past but I don't see why it needs to be commercialized again. Killing so many snails for just a coloring agent is inhuman.

  • @mohamedraaifrushdhy6693
    @mohamedraaifrushdhy6693 Рік тому

    Woooooooow that purple is beautiful ❤️❤️💕

  • @Cmdtheartist
    @Cmdtheartist Рік тому

    Terrifically interesting!

  • @NellaLongo
    @NellaLongo Рік тому +6

    As someone who graduated from apparel design school, I appreciate the workmanship and dedication that goes into making this dye and would love to meet up with the dye maker to have pieces of a simple summer dress dyed❤

  • @arvin6606
    @arvin6606 Рік тому +16

    I love the fact that he said he wanted to preserve the species and the snail isn't going to waste after taking the gland.
    Maybe he could cultivate it himself so he won't need to wait for harvesting season.
    Another suggestion, the shell can be processed into soap, bone meal, and even explosive if you want 😅

  • @amandaredd3057
    @amandaredd3057 Рік тому +1

    This is insanely impressive

  • @sickjuicysjamshack3580
    @sickjuicysjamshack3580 Рік тому +1

    I don’t know whether I’m more impressed by this guys English or his dedication to a difficult, time-intensive semi-lucrative hobby. I wonder if it would be possible to breed the snails