The most opulent fabrics were those dyed purple since the dye was extracted from a Mediterranean mollusk, the murex, though a long and complicated process. Thousands of these mollusks were required since each one provided only a few drops of the precious color. The purple fabric of Palmyra no doubt came from Tyre or Sydon, cities that were famous for their production of this dye. at on point during the Roman empire. purple cloth was literally worth its weight in gold.

This type of cloth has been discovered in Palmyra more than in any other Mediterranean site. This in itself is an indication of the city’s wealth, for in the Roman period there was no better symbol of a luxury than a garment dyed this color.