Көне дәуірлердегі аспан көгінің құпиясы: Tekhelet бояуы

A blue dye mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and prized by ancient Mediterranean civilizations

the journal

Tekhelet ( təḵēleṯ; alternative spellings include tekheleth, t'chelet, techelet, and techeiles) is a highly valued dye described as either "sky blue" (, Ta'ḵhol or Ta'chol, Ta'hol), or "light blue" (, ḵa'chol bahir, ḵa'ḵhol bahir, ca'hol bahir), that held great significance in ancient Mediterranean civilizations. In the Hebrew Bible and Jewish tradition, tekhelet was used to color the clothing of the High Priest, the tapestries in the Tabernacle, and the tzitzit (fringes) attached to the corners of four cornered garments, including the tallit. The mention of tekhelet is particularly notable in the third paragraph of the Shema, referencing
The Bible does not specify the source or production method of tekhelet. According to later rabbinic literature, it was exclusively derived from a marine creature known as the Ḥillazon. However, the knowledge of tekhelet production was lost during the Middle Ages, leading to the omission of tekhelet from tzitzit. In recent times, many Jews believe that experts have identified the Ḥillazon and rediscovered the process for manufacturing tekhelet, leading to the revival of its use in tzitzit. The snail Hexaplex trunculus (historically known as Murex trunculus) is widely considered to be the creature responsible for producing authentic tekhelet. A garment with tzitzit consists of four tassels, each containing four strings. There are three differing opinions in rabbinic literature regarding the number of strings that should be dyed with tekhelet: two strings, one string, or one half string.

Of the 49 or 48 uses of the word tekhelet in the Masoretic Text, one refers to fringes on cornered garments of the whole nation of Israel (Numbers 15:37–41 (JPS)), 42 refer to the priesthood or temple clothes and garments. The remaining 6 in Esther, Jeremiah and Ezekiel are secular uses, such as when Mordechai puts on "blue and white" "royal clothing" in Esther. The color could be used in combination with other colors such as 2 Chronicles where the veil of Solomon's Temple is made of blue violet (Tekhelet), purple (Hebrew: אַרְגָּמָן Argaman) and scarlet (Biblical Hebrew: שָׁנִי (Shani) or כַּרְמִיל karmiyl). states that tekhelet cloth could be obtained from "isles of Elishah" (likely Cyprus). All Biblical mentions of tekhelet (both secular and priestly) attribute its usage to some kind of elite. This implies that tekhelet was difficult to obtain and expensive, an impression further corroborated by the later rabbinic writings.

The manufacture of tekhelet appears to date back to at least 1750 BCE in Crete. In the Amarna letters (14th century BCE) tekhelet garments are listed as a precious good used for a royal dowry. The Talmud mentions use of tekhelet in the period of Rav Ahai (5th–6th century); however the Tanhuma (8th century) laments that tekhelet has been lost. Nero made laws that stated no one was allowed to wear purple because it was the color of royalty, and specifically he forbade goods dyed with Purpura (the name used for the Murex trunculus) under penalty of death. The idea that it was illegal to wear tekhelet is corroborated by a Talmudic story, in which rabbis caught smuggling tekhelet were liable to the death penalty. In the sixth century, Justinian put the tekhelet and argaman industries under a royal monopoly, causing independent dyers to cease their work and find other employment. The reason why royalty used the Murex dye as opposed to indigo which looked the same was because indigo faded. However once they figured out how to make indigo endure they stopped using the Murex trunculus because indigo was much cheaper. That time is when people stopped using the Murex trunculus for its dye entirely.

Despite the general agreement of the most of the modern English translations of the phrase, the term tekhelet itself presents several basic problems. First, it remains unclear to what extent the word in biblical times denoted a color or a source material, though it appears that at least in contemporary Mesopotamian sources, the cognate word takiltu referred to a color and not a material or dyeing process.