True royal purple is actually Tyrian purple. It was originally made from the crushed shells of snails found there. It was difficult to produce and is why royals were able to wear clothing dyed in it. It’s not purple as most people would imagine it. It’s actually quite a nice colour.
The mollusc was one of the two major shellfish sources of the dye, which formed an ancient trade that was centred on the Levantine coast around the city of Tyre in modern-day Lebanon, from where it took its name. The dye’s origin was shrouded in mythology, not least the suggestion it was discovered by Heracles’ dog after it ate the shellfish and its mouth turned purple.
True royal purple is actually Tyrian purple. It was originally made from the crushed shells of snails found there. It was difficult to produce and is why royals were able to wear clothing dyed in it. It’s not purple as most people would imagine it. It’s actually quite a nice colour.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/05/ancient-shellfish-red-mouthed-rock-shell-purple-dye-vanishes-eastern-med
Dye was a pretty major industry back in the day.
It was also almost the only "fast" dye, i.e. colorfast, it didn't wash out or change color.
More like a berry red.