List of ancient Greek and Roman monoliths

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Man amidst the collapsed giant columns of a Greek temple at Selinunte, Sicily

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.

## Contents

* 1 Greek monoliths
* 2 Roman monoliths
* 3 Gallery
* 3.1 Greek monoliths
* 3.2 Roman monoliths
* 4 See also
* 5 Notes
* 6 References
* 7 Sources
* 8 Further reading
* 9 External links

## Greek monoliths

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 ~1110.25

~650 BC  | Fortification wall[5] | Leontinoi, Sicily | Wall blocks  | 000175 ~1111.75

~640 BC  | Temple of Poseidon[5] | Isthmus, Greek mainland  | Wall blocks  | 000050 ~1110.5

~630 BC  | Temple A[5] | Prinias, Crete  | Frieze slab  | 000050 ~1110.5

~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 ~1134

~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 ~1113.25

~590–580 BC  | Temple of Artemis[5] | Kerkyra, Greek isles  | Architrave block | 000500 ~1115

or 6.25

~565 BC  | Temple of Apollo[5] | Syracuse, Sicily | Stylobate block | 002400 ~1124

~565 BC  | Temple of Apollo[5] | Syracuse, Sicily | Column shaft | 003500 ~1135

~565 BC  | Temple of Apollo[5] | Syracuse, Sicily | Architrave block | 002025 ~1120.25

~555 BC  | Olympieion[5] | Syracuse, Sicily | Stylobate block | 002025 ~1120.25

~560–550 BC  | Temple of Artemis[5] | Ephesos, Asia Minor | Architrave block, central  | 004125 ~1141.25

~550–530 BC  | Temple C[5] | Selinunte, Sicily | Stylobate block | 001250 ~1112.5

~550–530 BC  | Temple C[5] | Selinunte, Sicily | Architrave block | 001600 ~1116

~540 BC  | Temple of Apollo[5] | Corinth, Greek mainland  | Column shaft | 002600 ~1126

~540 BC  | Temple of Apollo[5] | Corinth, Greek mainland  | Architrave block | 001000 ~1110

~535 BC  | Temple D[5] | Selinunte, Sicily | Architrave block | 001375 ~1113.75

~525 BC  | Temple FS[5] | Selinunte, Sicily | Architrave block | 002100 ~1121

~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 ~1122

~520 BC  | Temple of Apollo[5] | Naxos, Greek isles  | Threshold  | 002225 ~1122.25

~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 ~1173

~520–409 BC  | Temple of Apollo ('GT')[5] | Selinunte, Sicily | Architrave block | 004000 ~1140

~520–409 BC  | Temple of Apollo ('GT')[5] | Selinunte, Sicily | Cornice block | 001250 ~1112.5

~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 ~1119

~500–406 BC  | Olympieion[5] | Akragas, Sicily | Abacus block, central  | 001150 ~1111.5

~500–406 BC  | Olympieion[5] | Akragas, Sicily | Architrave block | 000925 ~1119.25

~500–406 BC  | Olympieion[5] | Akragas, Sicily | Architrave block | 001100 ~1111

~500–406 BC  | Olympieion[5] | Akragas, Sicily | Architrave block | 001400 ~1114

~500–406 BC  | Olympieion[5] | Akragas, Sicily | Metope block, lower (angle)  | 001350 ~1113.5

~500–406 BC  | Olympieion[5] | Akragas, Sicily | Cornice block | 001150 ~1111.5

~500 BC  | Temple of Aphaia[5] | Aigina, Greek isles  | Column shaft | 000600 ~1116

~480–460 BC  | Temple ER[5] | Selinunte, Sicily | Architrave block | 001700 ~1117

~468–457 BC  | Temple of Zeus[5] | Olympia, Greek mainland  | Stylobate block | 000850 ~1118.5

~468–457 BC  | Temple of Zeus[5] | Olympia, Greek mainland  | Architrave block | 001650 ~1116.5

~460 BC  | Temple of 'Poseidon'[5] | Paestum, Magna Graecia | Architrave block | 001150 ~1111.5

~448–437 BC  | Parthenon[5] | Athens, Greek mainland  | Architrave block | 000950 ~1119.5

~448–437 BC  | Parthenon[5] | Athens, Greek mainland  | Lintel block, largest  | 000900 ~1119

~437–432 BC  | Propylaia[5] | Athens, Greek mainland  | Architrave block, central  | 001250 ~1112.5

~437–432 BC  | Propylaia[5] | Athens, Greek mainland  | Lintel block, largest  | 001225 ~1112.25

~437–432 BC  | Propylaia[5] | Athens, Greek mainland  | Lintel block, relieving [A 1] | 000875 ~1118.75

~437–432 BC  | Propylaia[5] | Athens, Greek mainland  | Ceiling beam, west porch  | 001000 ~1110

~421–405 BC  | Erechtheion[5] | Athens, Greek mainland  | Block over Pandroseion  | 001150 ~1111.5

~421–405 BC  | Erechtheion[5] | Athens, Greek mainland  | Lintel block, north door  | 000725 ~1117.25

~421–405 BC  | Erechtheion[5] | Athens, Greek mainland  | Ceiling beam, north porch  | 001000 ~1110

~420 BC  | Temple of Segesta[5] | Segesta, Sicily | Architrave block | 001250 ~1112.5

~366–326 BC  | Temple of Apollo[5] | Delphi, Greek mainland  | Architrave block | 000925 ~1119.25

~340 BC  | Temple of Zeus[5] | Nemea, Greek mainland  | Architrave block | 000675 ~1116.75

~340 BC  | Temple of Zeus[5] | Nemea, Greek mainland  | Lintel block | 000875 ~1118.75

~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 ~1146.75

~310 BC  | Temple of Apollo[5] | Didyma, Asia Minor | Lintel block[A 2] | 004800 ~1148

~310 BC  | Temple of Apollo[5] | Didyma, Asia Minor | Jamb[A 2] | 007150 ~1171.5

~170 BC  | Olympieion[5] | Athens, Greek mainland  | Architrave block, largest  | 002325 ~1123.25

## 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.

Date [A 3] | Building / Object  | Location  | Monolith  | Weight
(in t)  | Comment

|
|
|
|
|

000 1st c. BC

| Apollo statue[5] | Vitr. 10.2.13[7] | Base  | 005100 ~1151?

002 10 BC

| Flaminian Obelisk[8] | Rome, Italia  | Obelisk | 026300 ~1263

| From Roman Egypt by obelisk ship[8]
002 10 BC

| Campensis Obelisk[8] | Rome, Italia  | Obelisk | 023000 ~1230

| From Roman Egypt by obelisk ship[8]
037 37–41 AD

| Vatican Obelisk[9] | Rome, Italia  | Obelisk | 036100 ~1361

| From Roman Egypt by obelisk ship[8]
100 1st–2nd c.

| Temple of Jupiter[5] | Baalbek, Roman Lebanon  | Column drum, lower  | 004850 ~1148.5

100 1st–2nd c.

| Temple of Jupiter[5] | Baalbek, Roman Lebanon  | Architrave-frieze block, central  | 006300 ~1163

| Lifted by cranes to height of 19 m[10]
100 1st–2nd c.

| Temple of Jupiter[5] | Baalbek, Roman Lebanon  | Cornice block, corner  | 010800 ~1108

| Lifted by cranes to height of 19 m[10]
101 1st–3rd c.

| Granite column[11] | Mons Claudianus, Roman Egypt  | Column shaft in quarry  | 020700 ~1207

113 113

| Trajan's Column[12] | Rome, Italia  | Pedestal | 007700 11~77

113 113

| Trajan's Column[13] | Rome, Italia  | Base  | 005500 ~1155

113 113

| Trajan's Column[14] | Rome, Italia  | Column drum, typical  | 003200 11~32

113 113

| Trajan's Column[13] | Rome, Italia  | Capital | 005330 ~1153.3

| Lifted by cranes to height of 34 m[13]
150 2nd c.?

| Temple of Apollo[5] | Didyma, Asia Minor | Architrave block | 002050 ~1120.5

297 297

| Pompey's Pillar[15] | Alexandria, Roman Egypt  | Column shaft | 028500 ~1285

306 306–313

| Basilica Nova[5] | Rome, Italia  | Column shaft | 010300 ~1103

357 357

| Lateran Obelisk[16] | Rome, Italia  | Obelisk | 045500 ~1455

| From Roman Egypt by obelisk ship[8]
530 530

| Mausoleum of Theodoric[17] | Ravenna, Italia  | Roof slab  | 023000 ~1230

| Constructed under Ostrogoths[A 4]

## 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

* Record-holding monoliths in antiquity
* List of largest monoliths in the world
* List of obelisks in Rome

## Notes

1. ↑ If in two blocks.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 If monolithic.
3. ↑ In case of Egyptian obelisks, date of ship transport to Rome.
4. ↑ 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

1. ↑ Wirsching 2000
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Coulton 1974, pp. 7, 16
3. ↑ Lancaster 1999, pp. 419–439
4. ↑ Coulton 1974, p. 14
5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 5.34 5.35 5.36 5.37 5.38 5.39 5.40 5.41 5.42 5.43 5.44 5.45 5.46 5.47 5.48 5.49 5.50 5.51 5.52 5.53 5.54 5.55 5.56 5.57 5.58 5.59 5.60 5.61 Coulton 1974, pp. 17–19 (appendix), remaining data taken from text
6. ↑ Coulton 1974, p. 16
7. ↑ "LacusCurtius • Vitruvius on Architecture — Book X". https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Vitruvius/10*.html.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Wirsching 2000, p. 271 (table 1)
9. ↑ Lancaster 1999, p. 428
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Coulton 1974, pp. 16, 19
11. ↑ Maxfield 2001, p. 158
12. ↑ Lancaster 1999, p. 430
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Lancaster 1999, p. 426
14. ↑ Jones 1993, p. 32
15. ↑ Adam 1977, pp. 50f.
16. ↑ "NOVA Online | Mysteries of the Nile | A World of Obelisks: Rome". https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/egypt/raising/rome.html.
17. ↑ Heidenreich & Johannes 1971, p. 63
18. ↑ Coulton 1974, p. 7

## Sources

* 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, doi:10.1017/S1047759400011454
* 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

* Lewis, M. J. T. (1984–85), "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

* Traianus – Technical investigation of Roman public works

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