Did you know there are 196 countries in the world, but almost none of their flags have the color purple? This might seem surprising since purple is a popular color today. So, why is it missing from flags? The answer lies in history: purple used to be incredibly expensive.
For a long time, purple dye was more valuable than gold. This made it a symbol of royalty, power, and wealth. In fact, Queen Elizabeth I of England made a rule that only her close family could wear purple. The reason purple was so special is because the dye was rare and costly to produce.
The dye used to make purple came from a place called Tyre, which is in modern-day Lebanon. Traders got the dye from a tiny sea snail found only in that area. It took over 10,000 snails to make just one gram of Tyrian purple dye! Because of this, only the richest rulers could afford purple, so it became a color associated with emperors and kings in places like Rome, Egypt, and Persia. Purple also symbolized spirituality and holiness because these rulers were often seen as divine or god-like.
Sometimes, purple was too pricey even for the wealthiest people. For example, Roman Emperor Aurelian in the third century wouldn’t let his wife buy a purple shawl because it cost three times its weight in gold. To put it in perspective, a pound of purple dye cost as much as three pounds of gold, which would be around $56,000 today! Because of this high cost, no country could afford to have purple on their flag.
Things changed in 1856 when an 18-year-old English chemist named William Henry Perkin accidentally created a synthetic purple dye while trying to make a medicine for malaria. He realized this new dye could color fabrics and decided to patent it. This made purple dye much cheaper and accessible to everyone, not just the elite. As a result, purple lost its status as a symbol of wealth and power, but national flags stayed the same.
Since 1900, a few new national flags have been designed, and some of them have included purple. So, while it’s still rare, purple is slowly making its way onto flags. Isn’t it fascinating how a simple question can lead to such an interesting story? If you enjoyed learning about this, there are many more intriguing topics to explore!
Design a flag for a fictional country that includes the color purple. Think about what the color represents and why it would be important for your country. Use paper and colored pencils or a digital tool to create your design. Share your flag with the class and explain your choices.
Imagine you are a ruler from ancient Rome or Egypt. Write a short speech explaining why you wear purple and what it symbolizes for your people. Present your speech to the class, and discuss how the perception of purple has changed over time.
Investigate another color that has historical significance and present your findings to the class. Explain why this color was important, how it was produced, and any interesting facts you discover. Compare its history to that of purple.
Calculate the cost of producing Tyrian purple dye in today’s money. Research the current price of gold and use it to estimate how much it would cost to produce a pound of purple dye. Discuss why such high costs would affect its use in flags and clothing.
Conduct a simple experiment to create a natural dye using fruits or vegetables. Document the process and results. Discuss how this compares to the historical production of purple dye and the impact of synthetic dyes on the textile industry.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
There are 196 countries in the world today, and virtually none of them have purple on their national flag. Throughout history, purple was rarely used to represent a kingdom, civilization, or empire. So, why is that? It’s a popular color today, so why would no country use it in their flag? The answer is quite simple: purple was historically very expensive.
No countries have purple on their flag because, up until the 1800s, purple dye was worth more than its weight in gold. The color purple has been associated with royalty, power, and wealth for centuries. In fact, Queen Elizabeth I forbade anyone except close members of the royal family from wearing it. Purple’s elite status stems from the rarity and cost of the dye originally used to produce it.
The dye used to make purple came from the Phoenician trading city of Tyre, which is now in modern-day Lebanon. Fabric traders obtained the dye from a small sea snail found only in the Tyre region of the Mediterranean. A significant amount of work went into producing the dye, as more than 10,000 snails were needed to create just one gram of Tyrian purple. Since only wealthy rulers could afford to buy and wear the color, it became associated with the imperial classes of Rome, Egypt, and Persia. Purple also came to represent spirituality and holiness because ancient emperors, kings, and queens who wore the color were often thought of as divine or as descendants of the gods.
However, sometimes the dye was too expensive even for royalty. The third-century Roman Emperor Aurelian famously wouldn’t allow his wife to buy a shawl made from Tyrian purple silk because it literally cost three times its weight in gold. A single pound of dye cost three pounds of gold, which is the equivalent of approximately $56,000 today. Because of the astronomical price of purple, no nation, not even the richest, could afford to have purple on their flag.
The hue became more accessible to lower classes about a century and a half ago. In 1856, 18-year-old English chemist William Henry Perkin accidentally created a synthetic purple compound while attempting to synthesize quinine, an anti-malaria drug. He noticed that the compound could be used to dye fabrics, so he patented the dye, manufactured it, and became quite wealthy. Purple dye was then mass-produced, making it affordable for many people. As a result, the elite stopped valuing purple, and its status as a symbol faded away. However, national flags remained unchanged.
Since 1900, a handful of new national flags have been designed, and a few of them have opted to use purple. So, don’t make any bets just yet! Hopefully, you found this interesting. Sometimes the simplest questions have the most fascinating answers. For more interesting videos like this one, please subscribe.
—
This version maintains the original content while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
Purple – A color often associated with royalty and nobility in history due to its rarity and cost to produce. – In ancient times, the color purple was worn by emperors and kings to symbolize their power and status.
Dye – A substance used to add color to materials, such as fabrics, often derived from natural sources in historical times. – The Phoenicians were famous for creating a purple dye from sea snails, which was highly prized in ancient societies.
Royalty – Members of a royal family, such as kings, queens, princes, and princesses, who often held significant power and influence in history. – Throughout history, royalty has played a crucial role in shaping the political and cultural landscapes of their nations.
Wealth – An abundance of valuable resources or material possessions, often used to measure the prosperity of individuals or nations in history. – The wealth of the Roman Empire was evident in its grand architecture and extensive trade networks.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, which helps us understand how societies have evolved over time. – Learning about history allows us to appreciate the achievements and challenges faced by different civilizations.
Flag – A piece of fabric with distinctive colors and designs used as a symbol of a country, organization, or movement, often carrying historical significance. – The American flag, with its stars and stripes, represents the history and unity of the United States.
Expensive – Costing a lot of money, often used to describe goods or services that are rare or highly valued, especially in historical contexts. – In medieval times, spices like saffron and cinnamon were considered expensive due to their rarity and the long distances they traveled.
Traders – Individuals or groups who buy and sell goods, often playing a key role in the exchange of products and ideas across different regions in history. – Traders along the Silk Road facilitated cultural exchanges between the East and the West for centuries.
Empire – A large political unit or state, usually under a single leader, that controls many peoples or territories, often established through conquest in history. – The British Empire, at its height, was the largest empire in history, spanning multiple continents.
Spirituality – A sense of connection to something greater than oneself, often involving religious or philosophical beliefs, which has influenced cultures throughout history. – The spirituality of ancient Egyptians was reflected in their elaborate burial practices and belief in the afterlife.
