For November PAD Challenge: Image #16
http://1sojournal.wordpress.com/
Up Close and Personal
Photograph
by
Elizabeth Crawford
Color Purple
Color of personal power,
once sole domain
of aristocracy and royalty,
yet small common
blossoms
have always worn it
with freedom, pride,
and impunity.
Elizabeth Crawford 11/16/12
Notes: Because it was a difficult and very expensive dye to obtain, the color became a symbol of royalty and its power. Common folk could be inprisoned for daring to wear it.
Soul's Music 
“The actual color of Tyrian purple, the original color purple from which the name purple is derived, is the color of a dye extracted from a mollusk found on the shores of the city of Tyre in ancient Phoenicia (present day Lebanon) that in classical antiquity became a symbol of royalty because only the very wealthy could afford it. Therefore, Tyrian purple was also called imperial purple.
Tyrian purple may have been discovered as early as the time of the Minoan civilization. Alexander the Great (when giving imperial audiences as the Emperor of the Macedonian Empire), the emperor of the Seleucid Empire, and the kings of Ptolemaic Egypt all wore Tyrian purple. The imperial robes of Roman emperors were Tyrian purple trimmed in metallic gold thread. The badge of office of a Roman Senator was a stripe of Tyrian purple on their white toga.[13] Tyrian purple was continued in use by the emperors of the Eastern Roman Empire until its final collapse in 1453.” – thanks to Wiki
I had remembered that Purple came from a shell – so I went looking. It is interesting what is derived from nature and valued by man. I just picked up a story book for my grandson that you might like, explaining the origin of a particular flower: The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola
(retold Legend of the Great Pains Indians) ISBN 0-399-21777-0
Thank you for continually helping me to reach beyond – as well as look ‘in’:
http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/11/images-16-sensational.html
Your curiosity reminds me of my own, Jules. I finally got to really enjoy my own freely in college when I found out it was okay to ask all those questions, and learned how to do my own research. Thanks for beefing up my brief summary notes,
Elizabeth
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Wow, what an interesting slice of history you have served up for us today. I have always loved purple. In my last house, I painted my bedroom purple and woke up in the morning feeling like a Queen. Now I know why!
Purple symbolizes personal power, it is both freeing and energizing. Thanks Sherry, I really like your story,
Elizabeth
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A lovely tribute to a beautiful colour, Elizabeth.
Thank you Misky, it is certainly a favorite and has been for years,
Elizabeth
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