What's on your workbench?

[Purple]

I’ve never called it my ‘sea snail’ before

[Etranger]

I’ve never called it my ‘sea snail’ before

... slug possibly ...

[MarshalNey]

Purple came from some sea snail thingy and was vivid.

Bettany Hughes plucked one from the sea (Minotaurs Island documentary) and explained - I didnt take all the details in as droplets of water were trickling down her breasts - even after repeated viewings.

[levied troop]

Murex shells and saffron were used (it seems - hard to be absolutely accurate over this timescale).
Edit: Murex is the sea snail thingy that Ken missed:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murex

As for red - animal blood?

I think there are natural dyes in plenty, trouble is that there’s no good fixatives so I’m guessing fading is very common, even in the first year. However most of my chaps will be wearing new clothes

[grizzlymc]

So, she looked just as she would have after a long sweaty sex session in a Greek summer. Who wants to look at Purple snails?

[RMD]

Madder (a red dye derived from a root) was used in ancient Egypt and Greece, so was definitely available. Madder is the same stuff as used by the British Army to dye their coats in the 18th & 19th Centuries, so you'd have access to good, deep red shades.

[grizzlymc]

Brick red?

[MarshalNey]

Brick red will do.

[Purple]

Purple came from some sea.

Bettany Hughes plucked one from the sea (trickling down her breasts

Wait what am I supposed to have done with Bethany Hughes WSOJ?

[FreddBloggs]

Whatever you like. The other forum members might dispute with you though.