If you are not using a mouse, instructions will be given before each flash movie of how to access it through your keyboard.
Flash keyboard access: press the spacebar to both start or stop the ambient nature noises.
Natural Dyes
It took 12,000 molluscs to produce just enough Tyrian Purple to dye a single dress the size of a Roman toga. Purple garments labelled the wearer as a wealthy or privileged individual. The purple toga was introduced to Roman Civilisation by the first kings of Rome from 753 BC.
Flash keyboard access: press the spacebar to both open and close the animation .
Cheaper natural dyes
With the discovery that it was possible to produce purple dye from lichen (Rocella) the use of the Royal or Tyrian purple declined. It was replaced by cheaper dyes such as lichen purple and the madder plant.
The Pope and the Roman Catholic Church
In 1467, Pope Paul II introduced "Cardinal’s Purple" a scarlet colour extracted from the Kermes insect from which the English word crimson derives. It became the first luxury dye of the Middle Ages bringing cardinals on to a level with kings.
Flash keyboard access: the pope is not interactive.
Flash keyboard access: the following lowercase keys change the colour of the carrot. a is white , b is purple
c is red, d is yellow, e is green, f is black, space returns carrot to original colour.
In 2003 a new species of purple frog was
discovered by two scientists in India.
Flash keyboard access: press the spacebar hear the frog croak.
Purple Carrots
Temple drawings from Egypt dating back to 2000BC show a plant believed to be a purple carrot. It was not until the 17th Century that they turned orange, when patriotic Dutch growers favoured the colour - as used on their national flag.
Flash keyboard access: the butterfly is not interactive.