Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
3rd HS Academy Lecture on Current Topics in Heritage Science
You are invited to join "Current Topics in Heritage Science" Lecture 03/2022: Chromatographic analyses of molluskan purple pigments that will be delivered by Prof. Zvi Koren on Thursday, October 17th, 2022, at 3.00 PM CET.
The lecture series “ Current Topics in Heritage Science ” of the IPERION HS Academy aims at providing online training on fundamental aspects of heritage science, such as techniques and methodologies, as well as on specific heritage typologies and other topics of interest to the field. The lectures are targeted at emerging professionals, such as students and young researchers, but also advanced conservators, curators, restorers, and other cultural heritage stakeholders.
The lectures
are organized by a team of emerging professionals and are held online through Zoom webinar every
third Thursday of the month. Attendance is free and the lectures are typically 30 min long,
followed by Q&A.
Topic: Chromatographic analyses of molluskan purple pigments
The most regal of all textile dyeings performed in antiquity was undoubtedly from the purple pigment produced from the colorless precursors contained in the hypobranchial glands of certain species of the Muricidae family of mollusks – known as Murex sea snails. This pigment was first used as a paint pigment for decorating walls in the Aegean area from nearly four millennia ago. Later, in about the middle of the 4th millennium, it is probable that the Levantine Phoenicians discovered the method by which these pigments could be dissolved and transformed into a dye for the dyeing of textiles for sovereigns, high-ranking military personnel, as well as High Priests. Hence, dyeings with this pigment are sometimes referred to as “Royal Purple” or “Tyrian Purple”, after Tyre, one of the important cities of Phoenicia.
There are many questions regarding the ancient purple pigment and dye, such as what is the malacological source of these archaeological pigments and dyeings, what was the ancient method by which these dyeings were performed, and more. Case studies of HPLC chromatographic analyses of archaeological samples dating from three millennia ago can answer these questions. So, stay tuned for an exciting and colorful ride into the past.
Speaker:
Prof. Zvi Koren is Professor Emeritus from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in Israel. He has been the Director of The Edelstein Center for the Analysis of Ancient Artifacts at Shenkar since the Center’s inception in 1991. Prior to that, Zvi was the Head of the Department of Chemistry at The Cooper Union in New York. He received his B.S. degree in chemistry and mathematics from Brooklyn College and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the City University of New York.
More information and registration :
https://www.iperionhs.eu/lecture-3-2022/
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15 Nov 2022
