Byssus with Embroidery, or Embroidery with Byssus?

Abstract

In antiquity byssus was thought to be a fibre, which was used to manufacture very exclusive, lightweight fabric. As with so many things which fall into disuse, the origins of this material became somewhat of a mystery. The dictionaries consulted regarding the meaning of the word byssus state that it was probably a very fine type of linen. As a result of this I.M.Diakonoff in his in-depth article ‘The Naval Power and Trade of Tyre’ refers to the sails of the Phoenician ships in Ezekiel 27:7 as made of “byssus with embroideryâ€. In this article the real source of byssus is investigated to come to a better understanding of what it was and whether it could possibly have served as material for sails on Phoenician ships.