Expensive to produce, this highly sought after colour at the end of the spectrum, became an exclusive signifier of imperial or royal rank. Tyrian purple was made from the mucous of sea snails, or muricidae, more commonly called murex, and an incredible amount was needed to yield just a tiny amount of dye. Mythology states that it was Hercules himself who discovered it, or rather, his dog did, after picking up a murex off the beach and developing purple drool. Tyrian purple may first have been used by the ancient Phoenicians as early as 1570 BC and was greatly prized in antiquity because the colour did not easily fade, but instead became brighter with weathering and sunlight. It came in various shades, the most prized being that of black tinted clotted blood.