Each individual sea snail produces such a small amount of pigment that according to one study, some 10,000 were needed to produce enough secretions to dye one robe or cloak a deep shade of aptly named royal purple.
ففي حكم الملك نبونيد البابلي ،‏ كان سعر الصوف المصبوغ بهذا اللون يفوق ذاك المصبوغ بألوان اخرى بأربعين مرة .‏