Mary Purple Fingers

Sources:

• The Infancy Gospel of James
• Also called: Protoevangelium of James
• Date: ~2nd century CE
• Language: Originally written in Greek
• Authorship: Pseudonymous, attributed to James

Mary is chosen by lot among virgins to weave the veil (or curtain) for the Temple. Each girl is given a specific color of thread to spin or weave. Mary is given the purple or scarlet-purple thread.

Greek Text (excerpt):

“καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν πορφύραν καὶ τὸ κόκκινον ἡ Μαριάμ”
“And Mary took the purple and the scarlet”

In some manuscripts or apocryphal traditions (and later commentaries), her fingers are stained purple from this work. Sometimes interpreted mystically, or as a symbolic foreshadowing (e.g., of royalty, or priestly function).

See Also: Murex Tyrian Purple Dye
See Also: Temple Fumigation