The Purple Tide: Murex Dye and the Formation of the Minoan State

Abstract

Though scholars have previously speculated that there was a connection between murex dye and the formation of the Minoan state, a systematic exploration of the relationship between these two factors has not been conducted. This thesis attempts to rectify that deficiency, examining the location and character of early murex production on Crete. The dye was difficult to produce and required skilled craftsmen, but the result was a colorfast dye that did not fade. I juxtapose this industry against the macro-events of the Bronze Age, which led to the increasing international connection of the island. This thesis follows the industry from its earliest origins on Crete in the Early Minoan III and Middle Minoan I, then considers the developments as dye production shifted to east Crete during the Middle Minoan II, and then focuses on the changes that arose during the Minoanization of the Aegean as the industry began to scatter to the Cyclades, the Greek mainland, and beyond. I also investigate the potential contribution of the Minoan wool industry, which was combined with murex dye to create a prestige item. Though these prestige items involved the contribution of many members of society, ultimate control was in the hands of elites who used the textiles to gain entry to the international trade relationships which had been established by kingdoms in the east and Egypt. Though the Minoan state began as a satellite to these kingdoms, by the Middle Minoan III period they were acting as a core state to an Aegean periphery. The attributes of the production are then evaluated using Costin’s framework for characterizing craft specialization (Costin 1991). This allows for a nuanced exploration of the periodic economies of murex production that manifested as the international Minoan market was developing.