Since prehistoric times, Mediterranean peoples have incorporated local snails into their cultures, each based on to its own unique qualities.
Columbella Rustica
Prehistoric people used to gather Columbella rustica seashells that washed ashore. They would thread the natural holes caused by friction in the sea to create necklaces and bracelets or sew them to clothing. These perforated shells were very common in Mediterranean countries in sites dating back 45,000 years, as well as at sites near the coastline and even hundreds of kilometers away, attesting to trade between various groups of hunter-gatherers. Such beads were discovered in Eretz Israel at prehistoric sites dating back 40,000-15,000 years in the Galilee, the Carmel Mountains and the Jordan Valley and even on the eastern side of the Jordan River. In the Galilee, hunter-gatherers who lived 15,000-11,000 years ago also adorned themselves with these shells. Later, with the transition to agriculture, use of the shells decreased.
Bolinus Brandaris
Bolinus brandaris was one of the Mediterranean snails used in ancient times to produce azure and purple dyes, the sacred colors of the Jewish People. It took thousands of snails to dye a single kilo of fabric. The snails were gathered from the sea in wicker baskets tied to ropes, using meat for bait. Once caught, the snails were soaked in salted water and then heated to achieve the desired color. Different hues were produced by diluting the dye or mixing it with other materials. Relics of biblical period dyeing industry were discovered along Israel’s shoreline and in the Talmudic period, Jews in Eretz Israel also gathered snails to produce the sacred colors. The color azure had religious significance for the ancient Jewish People because of the mitzvah to wear tzitzit tassels. Over time, the snail population along Israel’s shores dwindled; the sacred color industry decreased and finally stopped altogether in the 7th century. Since then, tzitzit tassels have been all white. Purple fabric was a sign of luxury in the ancient world, and in Rome, the amount of purple in a piece of clothing signified the wearer’s social standing. The biblical galbanum, which was used to make incense, was probably produced from the snail shell sealant. This sealant was typically burned to produce a pleasant odor.
Charonia Variegata
In the ancient world, large seashells were made into horns by removing the tip and blowing through them. Charonia variegata shells were discovered in sites in Italy dating back 6000 years. In Greek mythology, Titon, son of Poseidon the god of the Sea, would ride the waves as he blew a seashell horn to calm the storms; this was also a battle cry when the gods fought giants. According to a different Greek myth, Hercules’ son Thanos invented the horn. His gang used to eat human flesh, so if one of them died, others were hesitant to attend the funeral. To avoid this, when someone died, Thanos would sound the horn to announce that they were burying the dead, that they did not intend to cannibalize anyone and that all were welcome to attend the funeral. The Romans, in line with this myth, incorporated seashell horn statues onto tombstones and memorials. From the Renaissance period onward, tritons blowing seashell horns were an important motif in Italian art. In Israel, most seashell horns were found in Hellenistic sites.
Joseph Heller
Emeritus Professor of Zoology
Malacologist, Eretz Israel mollusks
