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August 28, 2024

Biblical Scarlet Unearthed

“The worm of crimson.”

The quest to identify the creature used for producing the biblical blue dye known as t’khelet, along with the related argaman (Tyrian purple), has consumed much attention over the past century. A variety of textual, biological, and archaeological evidence has led to a general consensus that it is a snail of the genus Murex. But less attention has been paid to the source of another dye, likewise used to color wool and frequently mentioned in the Bible alongside the others, known by the name tola’at shani—literally, “the worm of crimson.” Now this mysterious creature may also have been identified, the Times of Israel reports:

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August 28, 2024

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