The history of Marble is a journey of transformation that spans from the ocean depths to monuments that have shaped civilizations.
In general, it makes no difference how old it is or what it was used for. It transcends humanity, nature, erosion, and time.
Let us get to know why Marble was significant to all civilizations, whether they were great or not. From Asia, to Europe, to the Americas. Marble represents luxury, power, and immortality in art and architecture, encompassing not only history, but also the present and the future.
The name traces back to 3rd-century BC Greece, deriving from the word Marmaros, meaning “Shining Stone” or “Crystalline Rock”.
In ancient history, from Egypt, to Greece, to the Roman Empire, this durable, metamorphic, and veined appearance stone was used in Art and Architecture to showcase power and opulence.
This premium natural stone has been a staple of luxury for thousands of years, dating back to 2700 BC to the 7th Century BC in Egypt, used to inlay tombs, sarcophagus and statues of the Pharaohs.
In ancient Greece, the 7th to 1st century BC, the Greeks were the first to fully explore the artistic potential of Marble, like the amazing sculpture of Venus de Milo (100–130 BCE) or the architecture of the Parthenon (5th century BC), made entirely of Pentelic (Dionissos) Marble from Mount Pentelicus.
In the Roman Empire, 1st BC to 4th century DC, the Romans industrialized extractions and created the technique of Veneering. The large-scale extraction started in Carrara in the Julius Cesar era (100 BC to 44 BC). The Pantheon (27 BC-14 AC reconstructed around 126 AD) and Trajan’s Column (2nd century AD) are still standing to this day and can be visited in Rome.
In the Middle Ages (500 to 1000 AC) marble experienced a major decay, resurfacing in the final years of the Middle Ages when the Italian Renaissance emerged (aprox. 1300 to 1600 AC).
The next centuries follow, and Marble gains an even greater importance, from the Renaissance era in Italy (14th to the 17th centuries AC), to the 17th century AC Taj Mahal in India, to Neoclassical in the 18th-19th century AC.
In the Renaissance era, Italy, masterpieces from Sculptors like Michelangelo used this amazing stone to create statues from Statuario Marble (Carrara), such as David (1501-1504 AC) and Pietá (1498-1499 AC). These marvels of the world withstand the test of time and, to this day, can be seen with very little erosion.
17th century India, brings us the Taj Mahal (1632-1653 AC) an amazing architectural structure built (commissioned) by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to symbolize his eternal love and honor the life of his late wife Mumtaz Mahal, this white Marble mausoleum is the pinnacle of the Mughal architecture and is known for its shifting colors, appearing pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden at night.
All around Europe, the Baroque (1600-1750 AC) and Rococo (1720-1770) periods are lavish periods, where colored Marble became the main pattern for Palaces and Luxurious Churches.
In the Neoclassicism period (1760-1850), Marble becomes the preferred material for Democratic Institutions in the USA, like the Capitol (1793-1826) and the Lincoln Memorial (1914-1922).
In the past, Marble was reserved for the Elite due to its laborious manual extraction. The evolution of extraction materials, such as Diamond Saws, CNC equipment (20th century), made Marble accessible to everyone and common in Households. Today, 100 million tons are extracted and produced annually.
Formation
This marvel natural stone is composed of calcium and magnesium carbonate; it is a metamorphic stone, with a combination of limestone or dolomite, extreme heat, and tectonic pressure within the Earth’s crust. Recrystallization is the process that transforms the calcite in the limestone into a dense interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals.
It’s a process that takes millions of years to form.
Characteristics
Appearance & Texture
Marble has a crystalline structure, making it naturally white until in contact with mineral impurities such as clay, sand, iron oxide, or silica, giving it natural veins, swirls, and other colors.
Physical Properties
It is relatively soft but a very durable stone, allowing it to be used in sculptures, giving it flexibility while enduring erosion slowly. It is also resistant to high temperatures.
Chemical Properties
Marble is primarily calcium carbonate (CaCO3), often containing 38–42% Lime (CaO) and significant amounts of Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO3). It’s mainly composed of calcium carbonate, making it fizz when exposed to acids like Vinegar or Lemon Juice.
Extraction methods
Primarily, the extraction was a very laborious method and was done by using wedges and hammers. From then to now, the methods have changed and evolved. Today, there are various techniques, including drilling, blasting, water jet, and diamond cutting. The standard of the industry is Diamond Wire Sawing that is a steel cable embedded with industrial diamonds and cooled by water to prevent overheating.
This method is the most efficient, precise, and sustainable, and minimizes cracks and damage to the marble.