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 (

architrave In classical architecture, an architrave (; from it, architrave "chief beam", also called an epistyle; from Greek ἐπίστυλον ''epistylon'' "door frame") is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of columns. The term can ...

s etc.) *quarried, moved and erected in an upright position (

column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...

s 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 carrier Obelisk ships were ships used to transport obelisks. Today, eight ancient Egyptian obelisks stand in Rome, though not in their original places. The first of the obelisks, the 263-ton Flaminian obelisk, was transported from Heliopolis – modern ...

s. For lifting operations, ancient cranes were employed since ca. 515 BC, such as in the construction of Trajan's Column. 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 Volume is a measure of occupied three-dimensional space. It is often quantified numerically using SI derived units (such as the cubic metre and litre) or by various imperial or US customary units (such as the gallon, quart, cubic inch). The de ...

density Density (volumetric mass density or specific mass) is the substance's mass per unit of volume. The symbol most often used for density is ''ρ'' (the lower case Greek letter rho), although the Latin letter ''D'' can also be used. Mathematical ...

. The main source, J. J. Coulton, assumes 2.75 t/m³ for

marble Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite. Marble is typically not Foliation (geology), foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the ...

and 2.25 t/m³ for other stone. For an explanation of the large margin of error, which often leads to widely differing numbers, see these introductory remarks.

Greek monoliths

Below a selection of Greek monoliths sorted by their date.

Roman monoliths

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.

Gallery

Greek monoliths

File:Statue of Nikandre.jpg, File:Athenskouros.jpg, File:Crupi Giovanni - 1217 - Girgenti - Tempio di Ercole.jpg, File:KourosOfApollonas.jpg, Colossos of Apollona (~69 t) File:Rocche-di-Cusa-bjs-1.jpg, File:Huge doric capital - Temple of Zeus - Valle dei Templi - Agrigento - Italy 2015.JPG, Huge doric capital, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Agrigento

Roman monoliths

File:Obelisk-popolo.jpg, File:obelisk of montecitorio arp.jpg, File:Vatican Piazza San Pietro Obelisk slim.jpg, File:Baalbek-stoneofpregnantwoman.jpg, File:Baalbek- largest stone.jpg, File:RomaColonnaTraianaCima.jpg, File:Pompey's Pillar 2006.jpg, File:Piazza del Laterano.jpg, File:RavennaTheoderich.jpg,

Notes

References

Sources

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External links

Traianus
– Technical investigation of Roman public works {{DEFAULTSORT:List of Ancient Monoliths *List of ancient monoliths List of ancient monoliths *List of ancient monoliths *List of ancient monoliths *List of ancient monoliths Monoliths Monoliths Ancient monoliths *

Greek monoliths

Roman monoliths

Gallery

Greek monoliths

Roman monoliths

See also

Notes

References

Sources

Further reading

External links