Tyrian purple
![A small amount of dibromindigo as a powder, and its effect on a piece of fabric](/Images/godic/202502/05/Purpur-mit-Ausfaerbung5044.png")
![Two shells of Bolinus brandaris, the spiny dye-murex, source of the dye](/Images/godic/202502/05/Haustellum_brandaris_0005044.jpg")
![A space-filling model of 6,6′-dibromoindigo, based on the crystal structure](/Images/godic/202502/05/Tyrian-Purple-from-xtal-3D-vdW5044.png")
![Byzantine Emperor Justinian I clad in Tyrian purple, 6th-century mosaic at Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy](/Images/godic/202502/05/Justinian5044.jpg")
Tyrian purple (Greek, πορφύρα, porphyra, Latin:purpura), also known as Tyrian red, royal purple, imperial purple or imperial dye, is a bromine-containing reddish-purple natural dye. It is a secretion produced by several species of predatory sea snails in the family Muricidae, rock snails originally known by the name Murex.