How is purple dye made from snails?

Purple dye, historically known as Tyrian purple, is made from the secretions of certain species of marine snails, particularly the Murex snail. The process involves collecting the snails, extracting their hypobranchial glands, and then fermenting the secretions, which produce a color that ranges from crimson to deep purple. This dye is notable for its vibrant hue and was highly prized in ancient times due to the labor-intensive production process and the large number of snails required to produce even a small amount of dye. As a result, Tyrian purple became a symbol of wealth and royalty.