This is a list of ancient monoliths found in all types of Greek and Roman buildings .
It contains monoliths
quarried, but not moved
quarried and moved
quarried, moved and lifted clear off the ground into their position (architraves etc.)
quarried, moved and erected in an upright position (columns etc.)
Transporting was done by land or water (or a combination of both), in the later case often by special-built ships such as obelisk carriers .[1] For lifting operations, ancient cranes were employed since ca. 515 BC,[2] such as in the construction of Trajan's Column .[3]
It should be stressed that all numbers are estimations since only in the rarest cases have monoliths been actually weighed. Rather, weight is calculated by multiplying volume by density . The main source, J. J. Coulton, assumes 2.75 t/m³ for marble and 2.25 t/m³ for other stone.[4] For an explanation of the large margin of error, which often leads to widely differing numbers, see these introductory remarks .
Greek monoliths [ edit ]
Below a selection of Greek monoliths sorted by their date.
Date
Building / Object
Location
Monolith
Weight
(in t )
Comment
~650 BC
Dedication of Nikandre [5]
Delos , Greek isles
Figure
000025 ! ~111 0.25
~650 BC
Fortification wall [5]
Leontinoi , Sicily
Wall blocks
000175 ! ~111 1.75
~640 BC
Temple of Poseidon [5]
Isthmus , Greek mainland
Wall blocks
000050 ! ~111 0.5
~630 BC
Temple A [5]
Prinias , Crete
Frieze slab
000050 ! ~111 0.5
~ 610–590 BC
Sounion Kouros [5]
Sounion , Greek mainland
Figure
000200 ! 111 ~2
~ 610–590 BC
Colossus of the Naxians [5]
Delos , Greek isles
Base
003400 ! ~11 34
~ 610–590 BC
Colossus of the Naxians [5]
Delos , Greek isles
Figure
002300 ! 11 ~23
~ 590–580 BC
Temple of Artemis [5]
Kerkyra , Greek isles
Pediment slab , central
000325 ! ~111 3.25
~ 590–580 BC
Temple of Artemis [5]
Kerkyra , Greek isles
Architrave block
000500 ! ~111 5 or 6.25
~565 BC
Temple of Apollo [5]
Syracuse , Sicily
Stylobate block
002400 ! ~11 24
~565 BC
Temple of Apollo [5]
Syracuse , Sicily
Column shaft
003500 ! ~11 35
~565 BC
Temple of Apollo [5]
Syracuse , Sicily
Architrave block
002025 ! ~11 20.25
~555 BC
Olympieion [5]
Syracuse , Sicily
Stylobate block
002025 ! ~11 20.25
~ 560–550 BC
Temple of Artemis [5]
Ephesos , Asia Minor
Architrave block , central
004125 ! ~11 41.25
~ 550–530 BC
Temple C [5]
Selinunte , Sicily
Stylobate block
001250 ! ~11 12.5
~ 550–530 BC
Temple C [5]
Selinunte , Sicily
Architrave block
001600 ! ~11 16
~540 BC
Temple of Apollo [5]
Corinth , Greek mainland
Column shaft
002600 ! ~11 26
~540 BC
Temple of Apollo [5]
Corinth , Greek mainland
Architrave block
001000 ! ~11 10
~535 BC
Temple D [5]
Selinunte , Sicily
Architrave block
001375 ! ~11 13.75
~525 BC
Temple FS [5]
Selinunte , Sicily
Architrave block
002100 ! ~11 21
~520 BC
Kouros of Apollonas [5]
Naxos , Greek isles
Figure
006900 ! 11 ~69
~520 BC
Temple of Apollo [5]
Naxos , Greek isles
Lintel block
002200 ! ~11 22
~520 BC
Temple of Apollo [5]
Naxos , Greek isles
Threshold
002225 ! ~11 22.25
~520 BC
Temple at Parikia [5]
Paros , Greek isles
Lintel block
002200 ! 11 ~22
~520–409 BC
Temple of Apollo ('GT') [5]
Selinunte , Sicily
Column drum in quarry (Cave di Cusa )
007300 ! ~11 73
~520–409 BC
Temple of Apollo ('GT') [5]
Selinunte , Sicily
Architrave block
004000 ! ~11 40
~520–409 BC
Temple of Apollo ('GT') [5]
Selinunte , Sicily
Cornice block
001250 ! ~11 12.5
~515 BC
From about that time on, cranes are assumed to have become common on Greek construction sites, leading to a sharp reduction of block sizes.[2]
~515 BC
Olympieion [5]
Athens , Greek mainland
Column drum
000900 ! ~111 9
~500–406 BC
Olympieion [5]
Akragas , Sicily
Abacus block , central
001150 ! ~11 11.5
~500–406 BC
Olympieion [5]
Akragas , Sicily
Architrave block
000925 ! ~111 9.25
~500–406 BC
Olympieion [5]
Akragas , Sicily
Architrave block
001100 ! ~11 11
~500–406 BC
Olympieion [5]
Akragas , Sicily
Architrave block
001400 ! ~11 14
~500–406 BC
Olympieion [5]
Akragas , Sicily
Metope block , lower (angle)
001350 ! ~11 13.5
~500–406 BC
Olympieion [5]
Akragas , Sicily
Cornice block
001150 ! ~11 11.5
~500 BC
Temple of Aphaia [5]
Aigina , Greek isles
Column shaft
000600 ! ~111 6
~ 480–460 BC
Temple ER [5]
Selinunte , Sicily
Architrave block
001700 ! ~11 17
~ 468–457 BC
Temple of Zeus [5]
Olympia , Greek mainland
Stylobate block
000850 ! ~111 8.5
~ 468–457 BC
Temple of Zeus [5]
Olympia , Greek mainland
Architrave block
001650 ! ~11 16.5
~460 BC
Temple of 'Poseidon' [5]
Paestum , Magna Graecia
Architrave block
001150 ! ~11 11.5
~ 448–437 BC
Parthenon [5]
Athens , Greek mainland
Architrave block
000950 ! ~111 9.5
~ 448–437 BC
Parthenon [5]
Athens , Greek mainland
Lintel block , largest
000900 ! ~111 9
~ 437–432 BC
Propylaia [5]
Athens , Greek mainland
Architrave block , central
001250 ! ~11 12.5
~ 437–432 BC
Propylaia [5]
Athens , Greek mainland
Lintel block , largest
001225 ! ~11 12.25
~ 437–432 BC
Propylaia [5]
Athens , Greek mainland
Lintel block , relieving [A 1]
000875 ! ~111 8.75
~ 437–432 BC
Propylaia [5]
Athens , Greek mainland
Ceiling beam, west porch
001000 ! ~11 10
~ 421–405 BC
Erechtheion [5]
Athens , Greek mainland
Block over Pandroseion
001150 ! ~11 11.5
~ 421–405 BC
Erechtheion [5]
Athens , Greek mainland
Lintel block , north door
000725 ! ~111 7.25
~ 421–405 BC
Erechtheion [5]
Athens , Greek mainland
Ceiling beam, north porch
001000 ! ~11 10
~420 BC
Temple of Segesta [5]
Segesta , Sicily
Architrave block
001250 ! ~11 12.5
~ 366–326 BC
Temple of Apollo [5]
Delphi , Greek mainland
Architrave block
000925 ! ~111 9.25
~340 BC
Temple of Zeus [5]
Nemea , Greek mainland
Architrave block
000675 ! ~111 6.75
~340 BC
Temple of Zeus [5]
Nemea , Greek mainland
Lintel block
000875 ! ~111 8.75
~350 BC
First in Ionia , the weight of the lifted blocks begins to match again that of the Archaic period , indicating a mastery of the winch and compound pulley hoist by now.[6]
~310 BC
Temple of Apollo [5]
Didyma , Asia Minor
Threshold
004675 ! ~11 46.75
~310 BC
Temple of Apollo [5]
Didyma , Asia Minor
Lintel block [A 2]
004800 ! ~11 48
~310 BC
Temple of Apollo [5]
Didyma , Asia Minor
Jamb [A 3]
007150 ! ~11 71.5
~170 BC
Olympieion [5]
Athens , Greek mainland
Architrave block , largest
002325 ! ~11 23.25
Roman monoliths [ edit ]
Below a selection of Roman monoliths sorted by their date; the list also includes work on Greek temples which was continued into the Roman era.
Date [A 4]
Building / Object
Location
Monolith
Weight
(in t )
Comment
000 ! 1st c. BC
Apollo statue [5]
Vitr. 10.2.13 [7]
Base
005100 ! ~11 51?
002 ! 10 BC
Flaminian Obelisk [8]
Rome , Italia
Obelisk
026300 ! ~1 263
From Roman Egypt by obelisk ship [8]
002 ! 10 BC
Campensis Obelisk [8]
Rome , Italia
Obelisk
023000 ! ~1 230
From Roman Egypt by obelisk ship [8]
037 ! 37–41 AD
Vatican Obelisk [9]
Rome , Italia
Obelisk
036100 ! ~1 361
From Roman Egypt by obelisk ship [8]
100 ! 1st–2nd c.
Stone of the South [10]
Baalbek , Roman Syria
Block in quarry
100000.12 ! ~ 1000.12
100 ! ?
Unnamed monolith [11]
Baalbek , Roman Syria
Block in quarry
124200 ! ~ 1242
100 ! 1st–2nd c.
Layer beneath Trilithon [12]
Baalbek , Roman Syria
Blocks, several
035000 ! ~ ∅ 350
Podium of Jupiter temple
100 ! 1st–2nd c.
Trilithon [12]
Baalbek , Roman Syria
Blocks, three
080000 ! ~ ∅ 800
Podium of Jupiter temple
100 ! 1st–2nd c.
Temple of Jupiter [5]
Baalbek , Roman Syria
Column drum , lower
004850 ! ~11 48.5
100 ! 1st–2nd c.
Temple of Jupiter [5]
Baalbek , Roman Syria
Architrave -frieze block , central
006300 ! ~11 63
Lifted by cranes to height of 19 m[13]
100 ! 1st–2nd c.
Temple of Jupiter [5]
Baalbek , Roman Syria
Cornice block , corner
010800 ! ~1 108
Lifted by cranes to height of 19 m[13]
101 ! 1st–3rd c.
Granite column [14]
Mons Claudianus , Roman Egypt
Column shaft in quarry
020700 ! ~1 207
113 ! 113
Trajan's Column [15]
Rome , Italia
Pedestal
007700 ! 11 ~77
113 ! 113
Trajan's Column [16]
Rome , Italia
Base
005500 ! ~11 55
113 ! 113
Trajan's Column [17]
Rome , Italia
Column drum , typical
003200 ! 11 ~32
113 ! 113
Trajan's Column [16]
Rome , Italia
Capital
005330 ! ~11 53.3
Lifted by cranes to height of 34 m[16]
150 ! 2nd c.?
Temple of Apollo [5]
Didyma , Asia Minor
Architrave block
002050 ! ~11 20.5
297 ! 297
Pompey's Pillar [18]
Alexandria , Roman Egypt
Column shaft
028500 ! ~1 285
306 ! 306–313
Basilica Nova [5]
Rome , Italia
Column shaft
010300 ! ~1 103
357 ! 357
Lateran Obelisk [19]
Rome , Italia
Obelisk
045500 ! ~1 455
From Roman Egypt by obelisk ship [8]
530 ! 530
Mausoleum of Theodoric [20]
Ravenna , Italia
Roof slab
023000 ! ~1 230
Constructed under Ostrogoths [A 5]
Gallery [ edit ]
Greek monoliths [ edit ]
The existence of the U-shaped channels on the stone blocks (here at the Temple of Heracles ) points at the use of cranes for lifting them into place.[21]
Roman monoliths [ edit ]
^ If in two blocks.
^ If monolithic.
^ If monolithic.
^ In case of Egyptian obelisks, date of ship transport to Rome.
^ Although the mausoleum reflects Ostrogothic style, the method for moving the monolithic roof slab and positioning it on top of the building relied on the continuity of Roman techniques into the reign of Theoderic.
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
^ Wirsching 2000
^ a b Coulton 1974 , pp. 7, 16
^ Lancaster 1999 , pp. 419–439
^ Coulton 1974 , p. 14
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj Coulton 1974 , pp. 17–19 (appendix); remaining data taken from text
^ Coulton 1974 , p. 16
^ Vitruvius: De Architectura, Book 10
^ a b c d e f Wirsching 2000 , p. 271 (table 1)
^ Lancaster 1999 , p. 428
^ Ruprechtsberger 1999 , p. 15
^ Ruprechtsberger 1999 , p. 17
^ a b Adam 1977 , p. 52
^ a b Coulton 1974 , pp. 16, 19
^ Maxfield 2001 , p. 158
^ Lancaster 1999 , p. 430
^ a b c Lancaster 1999 , p. 426
^ Jones 1993 , p. 32
^ Adam 1977 , pp. 50f.
^ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/egypt/raising/rome.html
^ Heidenreich & Johannes 1971 , p. 63
^ Coulton 1974 , p. 7
Sources [ edit ]
Adam, Jean-Pierre (1977), "À propos du trilithon de Baalbek: Le transport et la mise en oeuvre des mégalithes", Syria , 54 (1/2): 31–63, doi :10.3406/syria.1977.6623
Coulton, J. J. (1974), "Lifting in Early Greek Architecture", The Journal of Hellenic Studies , 94 : 1–19, doi :10.2307/630416
Heidenreich, Robert; Johannes, Heinz (1971), Das Grabmal Theoderichs zu Ravenna , Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag
Jones, Mark Wilson (1993), "One Hundred Feet and a Spiral Stair: The Problem of Designing Trajan's Column", Journal of Roman Archaeology , 6 : 23–38
Lancaster, Lynne (1999), "Building Trajan's Column", American Journal of Archaeology , 103 (3): 419–439, doi :10.2307/506969
Maxfield, Valerie A. (2001), "Stone Quarrying in the Eastern Desert with Particular Reference to Mons Claudianus and Mons Porphyrites", in Mattingly, David J.; Salmon, John, Economies Beyond Agriculture in the Classical World , Leicester-Nottingham Studies in Ancient Society, 9 , London: Routledge, pp. 143–170, ISBN 0-415-21253-7
Ruprechtsberger, Erwin M. (1999), "Vom Steinbruch zum Jupitertempel von Heliopolis/Baalbek (Libanon)", Linzer Archäologische Forschungen , 30 : 7–56
Further reading [ edit ]
Lewis, M. J. T. (1984–5), "Roman Methods of Transporting and Erecting Obelisks", Transactions of the Newcomen Society , 56 : 87–110, doi :10.1179/tns.1984.005
Wirsching, Armin (2000), "How the Obelisks Reached Rome: Evidence of Roman Double-Ships", The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology , 29 (2): 273–283, doi :10.1111/j.1095-9270.2000.tb01456.x
Wirsching, Armin (2003), "Supplementary Remarks on the Roman Obelisk-Ships", The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology , 32 (1): 121–123, doi :10.1111/j.1095-9270.2003.tb01438.x
External links [ edit ]
Traianus – Technical investigation of Roman public works
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