List of ancient Greek and Roman monoliths
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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
Summarize
Perspective
Below a selection of Greek monoliths sorted by their date.
Roman monoliths
Summarize
Perspective
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
- Nikandre Dedication (0.25 t)
- Sounion Kouros (~2 t)
- 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.[18]
- Colossos of Apollona (~69 t)
- Column drum(s) in Cave di Cusa (73 t)
- Huge doric capital, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Agrigento
Roman monoliths
- Flaminian Obelisk (263 t)
- Campensis Obelisk (230 t)
- Vatican Obelisk (330 t)
- Stone of the South (~1,000 t)
- Unnamed monolith (1,242 t)
- Capital of Trajan's Column (53.3 t)
- Shaft of Pompey's Pillar (285 t)
- Lateran Obelisk (455 t)
- Roof slab of Mausoleum of Theodoric (230 t)
See also
Notes
- If in two blocks.
- 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.
References
Sources
Further reading
External links
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