Yakow Harolsson, High Commander of the Companions of the Arena:
"...was clad the same as his men, except for adding a purple cloak." (p. 197)
Primus inter pares (first among equals), or something?
"While Solomon was in all his glory and the Temple was a-building, Manse Everard came to Tyre of the purple."
-Poul Anderson, "Ivory, and Apes, and Peacocks" IN Anderson, Time Patrol (Riverdale, NY, 2010), pp. 229-331 AT p. 229.
Street booths do not offer:
"...the famous purple dye; it was too expensive, sought after by garment workers everywhere, destined to become the traditional color of royalty."
-"Ivory...," p. 240 -
- and also the color of a High Commander in another timeline.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
More simply put, that purple cloak was a symbol of the High Commander's rank and status.
Ad astra! Sean
One thing to keep in mind about traditional "royal purple" is that nearly all bright-colored dyes were rare and expensive before chemical dyes became important in the 19th century.
Most people wore undyed cloth, or cloth dyed in muted, rather dull colors with local vegetable extracts that ran, faded and otherwise toned down quickly. Good dyes were expensive, and mordants -- the chemicals like alum that 'fixed' the colors in cloth -- were expensive too.
Note also that when "plunder" is specified in old stories, it usually includes "clothes" -- in other words, it was worth the effort to go long distances and fight to acquire used clothing.
So clothing was not only a statement of rank, it was -obviously- so. Just having clothes that weren't obviously worn and much-repaired was.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And you reminded me of this bit from Chapter XVI, Section 3, of Anderson's THE GOLDEN HORN, as Harald Hardrede was coming to an agreement with his nephew Magnus I on the terms by which they would rule Norway as co-kings: "Harald took from his share [of movable goods] a birchwood bowl with gilt silver rim and handles, filled with silver monies, and gave it to Thori--likewise two heavy gold rings, and his own cloak, dark purple and lined with ermine." I noted that part, about the costly purple cloak! Kings were expected to give such gifts, including fine clothing, to proven and loyal followers.
Ad astra! Sean
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