Who Was Allowed to Wear Purple? The Color of Royalty and Power

The Historical Significance of Purple

Okay, let’s talk about purple. I mean, it’s such a rich, vibrant color, right? But, here’s the kicker: for centuries, purple was a color that only certain people could wear. If you’re imagining some regal and exclusive old-school society where only royalty got to wear purple, well, you’re not far off. But why was purple so special, and who actually had the privilege to wear it? Let me walk you through it.

Purple Dye and Its Rarity

Purple was considered so valuable because the dye used to make it was extremely rare. It came from the murex shellfish, which was found in the Mediterranean Sea. To get just a gram of dye, you needed hundreds of these shellfish. Imagine that! I once read that it could take about 10,000 snails to create a single gram of purple dye. And that’s why it was so expensive. People didn’t just wear purple because it was pretty; they wore it because it was a symbol of wealth, power, and exclusivity.

Who Was Allowed to Wear Purple in Ancient Times?

Alright, now let’s get into the nitty-gritty of who was actually allowed to rock purple. Turns out, it wasn’t just anyone—far from it.

The Roman Empire: Purple Was for the Elite

In ancient Rome, the purple dye was reserved for the emperor and the imperial family. That’s right—purple wasn’t just a color; it was a direct line to the highest ranks of society. If you were part of the ruling class, wearing purple made it clear that you were someone of immense power. Common folk? Not so much.

I remember reading about the toga picta, a toga dyed with purple, that was only worn by generals during a triumph (a massive military victory parade). Imagine the spectacle—purple flowing as a symbol of their conquest. I can’t help but think of how such exclusivity must have felt for those who got to wear it. I mean, the power, the pride, right?

The Byzantine Empire: Purple for the Emperor's Only

Fast forward to the Byzantine Empire, and purple became even more sacred. Only the emperor and his immediate family could wear it. The famous "Imperial Purple" was even more coveted. In fact, the term “Purple of the Emperor” was used to describe it. That’s how much of a symbol of authority purple had become. If you weren’t in the royal family, forget about it.

One of the most fascinating stories I came across was about Justinian I, the Byzantine emperor. He made purple such an emblem of power that his successor, Justinian II, even minted coins with his image wearing purple robes. That purple was truly a statement that not just anyone could imitate.

What About the Middle Ages? Was Purple Still Exclusive?

Oh, you bet it was. As much as the color purple lost some of its exclusivity with time, it still remained the domain of royalty and the clergy.

Church Influence: Purple for the Clergy

In the medieval period, purple was also adopted by the church. High-ranking clergymen, like bishops and cardinals, started wearing purple robes. Actually, this was so ingrained that to this day, cardinals wear purple in the Catholic Church. Funny enough, I didn’t even realize the deep symbolism behind their attire until I started digging deeper into the history of purple.

Honestly, I’ve seen priests wearing purple and never thought twice about it, but now I understand why it’s such a powerful color. It signifies authority, holiness, and connection to something greater. It’s pretty cool how one color can hold so much history, don’t you think?

The Renaissance and Beyond: Who Wore Purple?

As we moved into the Renaissance, purple was still tied to the elite. Only the wealthiest nobles or the aristocracy could afford to wear it. But with the growing demand for luxury fashion, purple slowly began to trickle down. Now, I wouldn’t say everyone could wear it, but it was definitely more available than it had been during the Roman and Byzantine eras.

The Decline of Purple's Exclusivity

So, when did purple start becoming more accessible to the general public? Well, this started happening when synthetic dyes were introduced in the 19th century. Suddenly, purple wasn’t just the exclusive realm of the powerful—it became available to many more people.

Synthetic Dye: Purple for Everyone

Once synthetic dyes became available, purple wasn’t reserved for emperors or cardinals anymore. It became a fashionable color that anyone with enough money could wear. I can’t help but think about how the introduction of synthetic dyes totally democratized fashion, making once-elite colors like purple available to everyone.

But even with that, purple still retains some of its historical prestige. I mean, it’s just one of those colors that always feels a little bit special, even if it’s now worn by everyone from fashionistas to your average person on the street.

Conclusion: Purple’s Timeless Symbolism

In the end, purple was once a color of royalty, wealth, and power. From the emperors of Rome and Byzantium to the high-ranking clergy of the Middle Ages, it was a status symbol that not everyone could wear. But as history moved on, and with the creation of synthetic dyes, purple became more accessible to the masses.

Still, there’s something about the color that feels a little different. Even today, when you see someone wearing purple, doesn’t it still give off a vibe of elegance, of importance? Maybe it’s just me, but there’s no denying the fact that purple is still a color of distinction, no matter who wears it.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.