Did You Know?

 What is the "coccus scarlet material" often referred to in the book of Exodus?

. According to the Bible account,  the tent cloths forming the walls and gate of the tabernacle, Israel's  ancient center of worship, were made of "blue thread and wool dyed reddish purple and coccus scarlet material and fine twisted linen." (Exodus 26:1; 38:18)  "The holy garments" if the priest were also to be made using "coccus scarlet material." - EXODUS 28:1-6.

Coccus scarlet, also known as kermes, was dye that yielded a brilliant red, or scarlet, color.  The dye was extracted from the bodies of the female insects of the Coccidae family. These wingless insects live on the kermes oask tree (Quercus coccifera), native to the Middle East and the Mediterranean Coast.  The scarlet color is contained in the eggs carried inside the body of the female. In that state, the insect resembles a berry, about the size and form of a pea, attached to the leaves and twigs of the kermes oak. After being hanpicked and crushed, the insects yied a scarlet color, soluable in water and suitable for dying cloth.  The Roman historian Pliny the Elder mentioned coccus scarket and counted it among the highly esteemed colors of his day.

Next time: Did You Know? Which of the Christian Greek Scriptures were present at Pentecost 33. C.E.? 

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