Expert: Jim Miller - 3/29/2007

Question
I am about to perform the musical joseph with my class at school, but i would like them to study the bible story of joseph and link to historical evidence. would you know what colours his coat could really have been back in those times?  

Answer
   The key phrase is "ketonet passim."  "Ketonet" is cloak or tunic.  "Passim" is unknown.  "Coat of many colors" is a guess, as are other translations such as "long tunic" and "long sleeved tunic/coat."
   As you are  staging  a play, of course a multi-colored tunic is prefered.  If you want some Biblical period colors for that tunic, the base color is the off-white and brown of raw sheep's wool or Egyptian linen.  The most highly valued dye was Tyrian purple, a dye produced by the Phoenicians from murex snails.  This dye ranged from reddish purple to almost royal blue.  Other dyes are possible in the red/yellow/orange range.  If they had a green dye, I don't know about it.
   I hope this is helpful,
Jim Miller