Why is the color purple associated with Royalty?

The color purple’s ties to kings and queens date back to the ancient world, and

even Biblical times. Purple was used to cover the Ark of the covenant depicting the royalty of His Presence. Kings of the Old Testament are said to have worn purple. At Jesus’ trial they clothed Him in a purple robe and crown of thorns when they mocked Him as King of the Jews.

During her reign, Queen Elizabeth1, passed Sumptuary Laws that forbid anyone but close relatives of the royal family to wear purple, so the color not only reflected the wearer’s wealth but also their regal status.

In Roman times, the only available purple dye was Phoenician “Tyrian purple” This was very expensive because it took as many as 250,000 sea snail mollusks to yield just one ounce of usable dye, so only the very richest could wear it. At various times its use was controlled by law, so only the Emperor could wear a robe that was all purple, while Senators could only wear a toga with a purple fringe. Some of these Roman Emperors forbid their citizens from wearing purple clothing under penalty of death.

I was feeling very royal in my purple yesterday because I really am a princess of His Kingdom having the legal right to wear purple because of His precious shed blood no longer living under the fear and the penalty of death.

CHALLENGE: Come on Sister Princesses dig deep in your closet for your purple apparel. You have the royal right to wear it!

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