Lifting boss

Not to be confused with bossage, a blocked out section for later carving.

Lifting bosses or handling bosses are protrusions intentionally left on stones by masons to facilitate maneuvering the blocks with ropes and levers.^[1][2]

They are an important feature of ancient and classical construction, and were often left behind, despite having fulfilled their purpose. Sometimes this was the result of a cost-saving measure or a construction halt. Other times, bosses were left as a stylistic element, and even if dressed back, a remnant of them was kept to make their existence obvious.^[3]

• 
  Lifting bosses of the crepidoma (base) of the Segesta temple, Sicily
• 
  Levering bosses left on Inca walls of Cusco, Peru
• 
  Bosses on the Propylaia (Acropolis of Athens)

See also

• Boss (architecture)
• Bossage