From jsiegel@nimbus.ocis.temple.edu Sun Mar 18 15:46:10 2001
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From: "Janice Siegel" <jsiegel@nimbus.ocis.temple.edu>
To: <classics@u.washington.edu>
Subject: purple death?
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 18:46:58 -0500
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I pass along a query from a colleague (thank goodness I remembered to change
the format of my message to plain text! i wouldn't want to be ostracized for
using html by accident...)

QUERY:

Does the expression "purple (or crimson) death" mean anything to you in
Latin or Greek?  I am trying to find the source of the French equivalent of
this expression.  While Homer speaks of crimson death in the Iliad, the
purple death I am looking for seems to describe a precious substance.
Commentators have pointed to Tyrian purple and the murex shell, but I'm not
satisfied.  Any thoughts just off hand?

Thanks. I have a query from a student to pass along later, as well. What
would I do without you guys.

Cheers, Janice

.