Purpure

In heraldry, purpure (/ˈpɜːrpjʊər/) is a tincture, equivalent to the colour purple, and is one of the five main or most usually used colours (as opposed to metals).

It may be portrayed in engravings by a series of parallel lines at a 45-degree angle running from upper right to lower left from the point of view of an observer, or else indicated by the abbreviation purp.

Purpure has existed since the earliest periods, for example in the purpure lion of the arms of León; at that time, it was painted in a greyer shade.

[2] One of the most expensive colours to acquire in ancient times, Tyrian purple was used in the war banner of Byzantine Emperor Komnenos[broken anchor]: Purpur (porphyr red) a double-headed eagle displayed Or.

The different tinctures are traditionally associated with particular heavenly bodies, precious stones, virtues, and flowers, although these associations have been mostly disregarded by serious heraldists.