revised
February 8, 2003
DECORATIVE STONES IN THE PRE-OTTOMAN
ISLAMIC BUILDINGS OF CAIRO, EGYPT
Part I:
DESCRIPTION OF STONE VARIETIES
by
Prof. James A. Harrell, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Sciences (Mail Stop #604)
The University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio 43606-3390, USA
Tele: 419-530-2193
Fax: 419-530-4421
E-mail: james.harrell@utoledo.edu
with the assistance of
Prof. Lorenzo Lazzarini, Ph.D.
Istituto Universitario di Architettura di
Venezia
Dipartimento di Storia dell'Architettura
Laboratorio di Analisi dei Materiali
Antichi
Palazzo Badoer, San Polo, n. 2554
30125 Venezia, Italia
E-mail: lorenzo@brezza.iuav.unive.it
and
Mr. Matthias Bruno
Via D'Ascanio, n. 1A
00186 Roma, Italia
E-mail: matthias@libero.it
NOTE
1: Megascopic descriptions are provided for
each stone variety based on examples seen in Cairo mosques. After each
description, the Roman name (if known) and traditional Italian name for the
stone are given. Only the most common Italian names are given but the reader
should be aware that some stones are known by multiple names as will be evident
in such references as DW92, G88, MSG89, M85, PB98 and R01. Alphanumeric codes
(e.g., "R01" for Ricci 2001)
are used for references cited in each description and the following
abbreviations are used within the associated parentheses: p = pages, f =
figure, t = table and pl = plate.
NOTE 2: After each description, "Buildings" lists those Cairo
buildings where the stone can be found (these are identified by their official
antiquities number), and "Uses"
indicates how much of and for what purpose the stone was used in Cairo. The
relative amounts indicated apply only to the visited buildings known to have
decorative stones inside, excluding the omni-present marble columns flanking
mihrabs. The amounts are defined as follows: abundant = found in a majority of
the buildings, usually as numerous pieces; common = found in a large minority
of the buildings with anywhere from a few to numerous pieces in each; scarce =
found in a small minority of the buildings, usually not more than a few pieces
in each; and rare = found in only a few buildings at most, usually as one to a
few pieces in each.
NOTE 3: For topographical and petrological
surveys of ancient Egyptian quarries and quarry stones see Aston et al. (2000)
and Klemm and Klemm (1993). See JAH's World Wide Web site for color photos of
ancient Egyptian quarry stones
(http://www.eeescience.utoledo.edu/egypt/), and see BH91 (Brown and
Harrell 1991) for petrological terminology used in the stone descriptions.
EGYPTIAN
STONES
From the Eastern Desert
E1 MP imperial porphyry: Stone
andesite-dacite porphyry with purplish-red, or rarely reddish black, aphanitic
groundmass and pale pink to white phenocrysts (up to 5 mm). Source Mons
Porphyrites (northeast flank of Gebel Dokhan). Quarried Late Predynastic and
Early Dynastic periods, and again possibly during Ptolemaic period (c. unknown)
and from 1st through 4th c. AD of the Roman period. Roman
name lapis porphyrites (= purple
stone); and Italian names porfido rosso
Egiziano or antico (= Egyptian or ancient red porphyry). References and Photos
M85 (p 64-65; 698, 702 in pl 21), G88 (p 122-123; f 90-91), MSG89 (p 274; f
116a), AN89 (p 35-46; 2 on p 112), DW92 (a in pl 1), DK92 (p 119-121; 23 in pl
54f), KK93 (p 379-395; pl 14.1-15.1), BH95 (t 1-2), PB98 (p 9-10; pl 53-56),
AHS00 (p 48-49) and R01 (pl 18: C1-C7).
Buildings:
24, 32, 35, 43, 49, 66, 97, 99, 114, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 133, 134, 138,
147, 149, 152, 175, 187, 189, 190, 203, 218, 220, 248, 255, 269, 281, 349; SAB, SCB, SHP.
Uses:
abundant wall and floor veneer (including rotae), and rare columns and door
lintels.
E2 MP greenish black porphyry: Stone
andesite-dacite porphyry with greenish-black aphanitic groundmass and white to
mainly pale green phenocrysts (up to 5 mm). Source Mons Porphyrites
(northeast flank of Gebel Dokhan). Quarried 1st through 4th
c. AD. Roman name lapis hieracitis
(= hawk stone); and Italian name porfido
verde Egiziano or antico (= Egyptian or ancient green porphyry).
References and Photos M85 (p 65; 714 in pl 21), G88 (p 133-135; f 93), MSG89
(p 278; f 120a), KK93 (p 379-395; pl 15.3), BH95 (t 1-2), PB98 (p 10; pl 58),
AHS00 (p 48-49) and R01 (pl 18: C9).
Buildings:
49, 60, 66, 97, 99, 114, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 133, 134, 138, 147, 149, 151,
175, 187, 189, 190, 218, 255; SAB, SCB.
Uses:
abundant wall and floor veneer (including rotae).
E3 MP black porphyry: Stone
andesite-dacite porphyry with black aphanitic groundmass and pale green or pink
to mainly white phenocrysts (up to 5 mm). This is really just a gradational,
subvariety of E2. Source Mons Porphyrites (northeast flank of Gebel Dokhan).
Quarried 1st through 4th c. AD. Roman name lapis porphyrites niger (= black
porphyrites stone); and Italian name porfido
nero Egiziano or antico (= Egyptian or ancient black porphyry).
References and Photos M85 (p 65; 719 in pl 21), G88 (p 138; f 92), MSG89 (p
272; f 114a), BH95 (t1-2), PB98 (p 10; pl 57), AHS00 (p 48-49) and R01 (pl 18:
C8).
Buildings:
66, 99, 133, 138, 149, 152, 187, 190.
Uses:
rare wall and floor veneer.
E4 WB quartz diorite: Stone medium- to
coarse-grained quartz diorite, mottled light gray and greenish black,
occasionally with what appear to be straight, white veins but which are
actually bleached zones along fractures. Source Wadi Barud. The Wadi Barud
quarry has long been known for another variety of quartz diorite which is the
Italian "granito bianco e nero"
(= white and black granite) which is not used in the Islamic buildings
of Cairo (photos M85 [p 69; 798 in pl 23], G88 [p 150; f 106], MSG89 [p 217;
f 67a], BH95 (t 1-2), PB98 [p 11; pl 63]), HL02 and R01 (pl 19: B3-B4).
The two varieties of Wadi Barud
stone differ only in their textures: in comparison with granito bianco e nero, the quartz diorite found in the Islamic
buildings is slightly finer grained and exhibits a much greater degree of
intergrowth between the light and dark minerals (HL02). This new variety has
not been previously reported in the literature, and its source was discovered
by JAH only in 1997 (the quarry workings are very close to those for granito bianco e nero). It is proposed
that the two varieties of Wadi Barud quartz diorite hereafter be referred to as
granito bianco e nero del Cairo (the
variety known mainly from Cairo's Islamic buildings) and granito bianco e nero di Santa Prassede (the
better known variety, good examples of which are found in Rome's Church of
Santa Prassede). In this document WB quartz diorite refers only to the del Cairo variety of granito bianco e nero. The so-called granito
scuro e tigrato may be another Italian name for this variety. Roman name
probably marmor Tiberianum (=
Tiberius' marble). Quarried 1st and 2nd c. AD.
Buildings:
66, 123, 133, 175, 190, 203; SCB.
Uses:
scarce wall veneer.
E5 WUS diorite: Stone coarse- to mainly
very coarse-grained pegmatitic diorite with large, pointed greenish black
crystals (up to 6 cm but mostly 1-4 cm) in a light gray to pale pink
groundmass. Source Wadi Umm Shegilat. Quarried late Predynastic and Early
Dynastic periods, and again in 1st and 2nd c. AD of the Roman
period. Roman name unknown; and Italian name granito della colonna (= granite of the column). References and
Photos M85 (p 69; 802 in pl 23), G88 (p 150-152; f 108), MSG89 (p 220; f 70a),
AN89 (10 on p 113), GLM92 (t 1-5); BH95 (t 1-2), PB98 (p 11; pl 61-62), AHS00
(p 30-31), HB02 and R01 (pl 1: A4 & pl 19: B7-B9).
Buildings:
18, 35, 43, 49, 66, 99, 123, 125, 133, 134, 152, 175, 189, 190, 203, 218, 255,
549; SAB, SCB.
Uses:
common wall veneer (including rotae).
E6 MC gneiss: Stone medium-grained
tonalite gneiss, speckled light gray and greenish black. Source Mons
Claudianus (near Wadi Fatiri el-Bayda). Quarried 1st through 3rd
c. AD. Roman name marmor Claudianum
(= Claudius' marble); and Italian name granito
del foro (= granite of the forum). References and Photos M85 (p 69; 796
in pl 23), G88 (p 148-150; f 112), MSG89 (p 222-223; f72a), AN89 (16 on p 113),
DW92 (c in pl 1), GLM92 (t 1-5), KK93 (p 395-408; pl 16.1-16.2), BH95 (t 1-2),
PB98 (p 10-11; pl 60), HBL99, AHS00 (p 34) and R01 (pl 19: C9).
Buildings:
121, 133, 190, 204, 218; SAB.
Uses:
rare floor and (mainly) wall veneer.
E7 WUE serpentinite: Stone medium- to
coarse-grained serpentinite, mottled light yellowish-green and dark green.
Source Wadi Umm Esh (near Wadi Atalla). Quarried Roman period, c. unknown,
and again extensively in the 20th century. Roman name unknown but
possibly lapis batrachites (= frog stone);
and Italian names serpentina moschinata
(= veined/spotted [like moss] serpent) and verde
ranocchia (= green frog). References and Photos M85 (p 63; 668, 671 in pl
20), G88 (p 235-237; f 115), MSG89 (p 291; f 129a), DK92 (p 136-139; 30 in pl
54h), KK93 (p 376-378; pl 13.1-13.2), BH95 (t 1-2), PB98 (p 12; pl 67-68),
AHS00 (p 57-58) and R01 (pl 5: B1).
Buildings:
13, 38, 120,133, 162?, 218.
Uses:
rare wall veneer.
E8 WH graywacke: Stone (meta) graywacke
sandstone to mainly siltstone, dark gray or greenish-gray to mainly grayish
green; slightly metamorphosed. Source Wadi Hammamat (Roman Mons Basanites).
Quarried late Predynastic period through the Roman period until 3rd
c. AD. Roman name lapis basanites
(= touchstone); and Italian names pietra
bekhen (= bekhen stone, where bekhen is the ancient Egyptian name), basanite (from basanites), and basalto verde
(from the mistaken belief that the rock is basalt). References and Photos M85
(p 64; 692 in pl 21), G88 (p 111-117), MSG89 (p 266; f 110a), AN89 (p 56-63),
HB92a and HB92b, KK93 (p 355-376; pl 12.1, 12.3), BH95 (t 1-2) and AHSf.
Buildings:
112, 120, 121, 123, 125, 130, 133, 134, 138, 203, 218,248, 269?, SCB.
Uses:
common wall and floor veneer, especially as trim (narrow strips) around larger
stone panels.
E9 WH conglomerate: Stone (meta)
conglomerate with multicolored, well rounded pebbles and cobbles in a green,
sandy groundmass; slightly metamorphosed. Source Wadi Hammamat (Roman Mons
Basanites). Quarried 20th, 25th and 30th
Dynasties, the Roman period until 3rd c. AD, and again, to a limited
extent, in the 1970's. Roman name lapis hexacontalithos (= stone of
sixty stones); Byzantine name = lapis
hecatontalithos (= stone of a hundred stones); and Italian names breccia verde d'Egitto or antica (=
Egyptian or ancient green breccia) and centopietre (= one hundred
stones). References and Photos M85 (p 64; 694 in pl 21), G88 (p 117-121; f
120), MSG89 (p 195; f 48a), AN89 (12 on p 113), DK92 (p 59-60; 4 in pl 54a),
KK93 (p 355-376; pl 12.5-12.6), HB92a and HB92b, BH95 (t 1-2), PB98 (p 12; pl
69-70), AHS00 (p 57-58), R01 (pl 15: C1-C3) and HBLf.
Buildings:
32, 38, 44, 45, 121, 133, 138, 175, 190.
Uses: scarce wall veneer and columns.
Probably
From the Eastern Desert
E10 Porfido
nero grafico: appears to be a rock similar to both the black porphyry from
Mons Porphyrites (E3) and Wadi Umm Towat, where the latter is another Roman
quarry in the Eastern Desert near Gebel Dokhan, the rock from which is not
found in Cairo. Like the stone from Wadi Umm Towat, it has common large white
quartz inclusions. Source no quarry is known but it is probably in the Mons
Porphyrites/Gebel Dokhan area. Quarried Roman period, c. unknown. Italian
name translates as "graphic black porphyry." References and Photos
G88 (p 139; f 95), MSG89 (p 273; f 115a) and R01 (pl 18: B9).
Buildings:
175, 190.
Uses:
rare wall veneer.
From
Elsewhere in Egypt
E11 Aswan granite: Stone coarse- to very
coarse-grained granite, usually pinkish or reddish overall but occasionally
darker with pink and black mottling. Source East Bank of the Nile River at
Aswan. Quarried Early Dynastic through Roman periods, and again extensively
in the 19th and 20th centuries. Ptolemaic name lithos pyrrhopoecilos (= red-spotted
stone); Roman names lapis syenites
(= stone of Syene, the Greek name for Aswan) and lapis or marmor Thebaicus
(= stone or marble of Thebes); and Italian name granito rosso or Sienite
(= red granite or granite of Syene). References and Photos M85 (p 67; 749 in
pl 22), G88 (p 145-147; f 111), MSG89 (p 225-226; f 74a), AN89 (17 on p 113),
DW92 (p 158-159; d in pl 1), DK92 (p 81-86; 10-11 in pl 54c), GLM92 (t 1-5),
KK93 (p 305-339; pl 10.1-10.6), BH98, PB98 (p 12-13; pl 71), AHS00 (p 36-37)
and R01 (pl 17: A5, C1-C3, C7).
Buildings:
1, 13, 27, 35?, 43, 44, 45, 99, 112, 120, 123, 129, 130, 143, 149, 152, 175,
187, 184, 190, 204, 215, 248, 252, 255, 257, 349, 549; MNM, SAB, SHP.
Uses:
common columns, and door lintels and sills (and rarely jambs).
E12 Aswan granodiorite: Stone coarse- to
mainly medium-grained granodiorite, dark gray overall with occasionally large
light gray or pale pink crystals (this is the so-called but incorrectly named
"black granite" of Egypt). Source - same as Aswan granite. Quarried
same as Aswan granite, but in much smaller quantities. Italian name granito nero or bigio (= black or
gray granite). The Ptolemaic and Roman names for the Aswan granite were also
sometimes applied anciently to the granodiorite. However, the Romans may have
called this stone lapis aethiopicus
(= Ethiopian stone). References and Photos G88 (p 147-148), MSG89 (p 242; f
73a), DK92 (p 70-76; 9 in pl 54c, and 13 in pl 54d), GLM92 (t 1-5), KK93 (p
339-353; pl 11.1-11.4), BH98, AHS00 (p 36-37) and R01 (pl 17: A5-A7).
Buildings:
18, 24, 33, 43, 66, 119, 120, 121, 123, 131, 133, 138, 143, 149, 151, 152, 175,
182, 184, 189, 190, 204, 211, 215, 255, 344; MNM, SAB, SHP.
Uses:
common columns, wall and floor veneer, and door lintels and sills.
E13 Banded travertine: Stone dense
(nonporous) travertine with alternating bands of white and light brown calcite.
This is the so-called "Egyptian alabaster" of archaeologists and art
historians, and the "calcitic or calcareous alabaster" of some
geologists. Source there are several quarries in Middle Egypt on the East
Bank of the Nile between Wadi Assiut in the south and Wadi Araba in the north.
Quarried late Predynastic period through the Roman period until 3rd
or 4th c. AD, and again extensively in the 19th and 20th
centuries. Roman names lapis
alabastrites (= stone of Alabastrum) and lapis onyx (= onyx stone); and Italian names alabastro egiziano or onice (= Egyptian or onyx alabaster) and
alabastro cotognino (= alabaster like
quince, a type of yellow apple). References and Photos M85 (p 37; 1, 5 and 17
in pl 1), G88 (p 215-218; f 224), MSG89 (p 140-141; f 4a-4b), AN89 (p 52-53; 10
on p 112), H90, DK92 (p 43-46; 1-2 in pl 54a), KK93 (p 199-223; pl 6.3-6.6),
PB98 (p 9; pl 49-52), AHS00 (p 59-60) and R01 (pl 10: C1-C4 & pl 11:
B2-B7).
Buildings:
133, 503; MNM.
Uses:
rare wall veneer.
E14 Sparry travertine: Stone dense
(nonporous) travertine consisting of an intergrowth of large, pale amber or
white to colorless sparry calcite crystals with little or no banding. Source
possibly Wadi Garawi near Helwan (H90), but there may be other Egyptian sources
not yet discovered. Quarried (in Egypt) Old Kingdom and possibly later. Roman
and Italian names none known.
Building:
133.
Uses:
rare wall and floor veneer.
E15 Basalt: Stone aphanitic black basalt.
Source and Quarried the only known quarry is in the northern Faiyum Desert
and dates from the Old Kingdom with minor Roman workings, but there are
outcrops near Cairo that may have been worked in Islamic times, such as at Abu
Zabal. This stone was widely used for pavements in Old Kingdom pyramid temples
and these are probably the source of much of the basalt used during the Islamic
period. References and Photos DK92 (p 51-54), KK93 (p 413-422; pl 13.5), HB95
and AHS00 (p 23-24).
Buildings:
43?, 99, 133, 190, 203; SHP (this list is very incomplete). Basalt was widely
used on the exteriors of buildings but such applications were usually not noted
in the present study.
Uses:
scarce construction blocks for exterior walls, especially around entrances (as
in ablaq masonry). Most black blocks used in ablaq are either
black limestone, or light-colored marble or limestone painted black. Basalt was
also apparently used for road pavement at the medieval city gate of Bab Zuwayla
(# 199).
E16 Siliceous sandstone (a.k.a. 'quartzite'):
Stone - mainly brown but occasionally light gray or red, pebbly quartz-cemented
sandstone. Sources Gebel Ahmar near Cairo, and Gebel Gulab near Aswan. The
stone found in Cairo probably comes from Gebel Ahmar. Quarried Early Dynastic
through Roman periods at Gebel Ahmar, and New Kingdom through Roman periods at
Gebel Gulab. References and Photos DK92 (p 95-99), KK93 (p 283-303; pls
8.1-9.6) and AHS00 (p 53-54).
Buildings:
32, 38, 44, 119, 221, 248.
Uses: scarce door sills, and rare columns.
E17 Mokattam limestone: Stone pale yellow to
light gray limestone with scarce to abundant, large, discoidal nummulitid
fossils, and exceptionally with abundant oyster shells. Source Gebel Mokattam
near the Citadel (and probably also the local ancient limestone monuments).
Quarried Old Kingdom through Islamic periods at Zawyet Nasr (and possibly
other localities, such as Tura and Masara). References and Photos DK92 (p
61-969; 7-8 in pl 54b), H92, KK93 (p 50-65; pl 1.2-1.6) and AHS00 (p 40-42).
A better quality limestone came
from further south on Gebel Mokattam near Tura and Masara. This is a little
harder with rare to absent megascopic fossils, and has a uniform fine-grained
texture and light gray color. This was the stone used for the exterior casing
on the Giza and Saqqara pyramids, most of which was stripped off and reused
during the Islamic period.
Buildings
and Uses: the ordinary variety was used in all buildings as the
principal masonry construction material. The Tura-Masara variety was probably
the stone used for the intricately carved domes, minarets and facades.
E18 Astracane
dorato d'Egitto: this
newly named stone superficially resembles the true astracane dorato from
Tunisia (see below) and the two are easily confused. Astracane dorato d'Egitto is like the normal Mokattam limestone, but
is recrystallized and typically yellowish with abundant large oysters and other
smaller fossils (Astirea facies). Its greater hardness, due to
recrystallization, allows it to take a good polish. Source unknown, but
probably the Mokattam limestone between the latitudes of Cairo and Beni Suef.
This stone was probably not quarried prior to the Islamic period.
Astracane
dorato [or castracani]: mottled light and dark
yellow to occasionally orange or pink, limestone with pelecypod fragments that
vary from rare to abundant and nearly microscopic to megascopic. Source
Henkhir el-Kasbat (ancient Thuburbo Maius), Tunisia. Quarried Roman period,
c. unknown. Roman name unknown; and Italian name translates as "gilded
(gold-plated) astrakhan", where an astrakhan is a woolly lamb skin (it has
also been suggested that the stone is named after the Russian city of Astrakhan
on the Caspian Sea but this seems unlikely). References and Photos M85 (p 41;
135 in pl 4), G88 (p 203-205; f 209), MSG89 (p 201; f 55a-55b), AN89 (14 on p
113), PB98 (p 13; pl 79) and R01 (pl 8: A2-A7).
Buildings:
18, 32, 49, 66, 97, 99, 114, 116?, 117, 119?, 121, 123, 130, 133, 134, 138,
149, 175?, 187, 182, 190, 203, 215, 218, 248, 281; SCB.
Uses:
abundant wall and floor veneer, and scarce columns.
E19 Broccatelli d'Egitto: limestone
breccia with white to light gray, angular, pebble- to cobble-size clasts of
micritic limestone and chert in a red matrix. It can be confused with the
similar-looking breccia corallina. It was used for small vessels and
animal figurines from the late Predynastic period through the Old Kingdom. Thereafter
(Middle Kingdom through Roman period) it was rarely used and then only for
small sculptures. There are no known ancient or medieval quarries, but the rock
is widely distributed between Esna in the south and El-Minya in the north. The
best-known outcrops are in Wadi Abu Gelbana, near Achmin, where there are
modern quarries. References and Photos DK92 (p 57-58; 3 in pl 54a), and KK93
(p 189-191; pl 6.2).
Buildings:
43?, 66, 120, 121?, 133, 162.
Uses:
rare wall veneer (including rotae).
IMPORTED
STONES These are referred to by their traditional
Italian names. The descriptions and referenced photos apply only to the
varieties seen in Cairo.
I1 Africano:
(meta) tectonic marble breccia with white, yellow, red to mainly pink, rounded to
angular, cobble- to pebble-size marble clasts in a black (or occasionally
grayish, brown or dark green) matrix with white quartz-filled veins; slightly
metamorphosed. Source Sigacik (ancient Teos), 45 km southeast of Izmir,
central Aegean coast of Turkey. Quarried 1st c. BC to 2nd
c. AD. Roman name marmor luculleum
(= Lucullus' marble, after the consul Lucius Lucullus who first introduced it
to Rome); and Italian name from the black (African-like) matrix and/or from
its original (but incorrect) attribution to Africa. Africano rosso (red) and verde
(green) varieties are recognized. References and Photos M85 (p 54-55;
418, 421 in pl 13), G88 (p 174-178; f 132, 133, 197), MSG89 (p 133-135; f 1b,
1d), AN89 (p 49-50; 13 on p 112), DW92 (p 157; g in pl 1), PB98 (p 8; pl 33-36)
and R01 (pl 15: A3-A9, B4-B8, C1-C9).
Buildings:
43, 123, 133.
Uses:
rare wall veneer.
I2 Bianco
e nero antico: tectonic limestone breccia with black or dark grey, angular,
pebble- to cobble-size clasts in a white matrix. Source Aubert near St.
Girons (Lez Valley) in the central
Pyrenees Mountains, southern France. Quarried 3rd c. AD through
Byzantine period. Roman name marmor
celticum or aquitanicum (= marble
of the Celts or Aquitaine); French name grand antique; and Italian name
translates as "ancient white and black". References and Photos M85
(p 57; 545 in pl 16), G88 (p 196-199; f 203), MSG89 (p 154-156; f 14a-14c),
AN89 (1 on p 112), DW92 (p 156; a in pl 2), PB98 (p 15; pl 89-90) and R01 (pl
1: C5-C6).
Buildings:
35, 38, 43, 67, 99, 121, 123, 125, 133, 187, 189, 190, 218; SAB.
Uses:
scarce wall veneer.
I3a Bigio
antico (a.k.a., Bigio di Asia Minore): marble with a mottling of dark gray
to black and light gray patches. It is similar to bigio lumachellato
(below) but with few or no fossils. Source near Moria on the Island of
Lesbos, eastern Aegean Sea, Greece, but also in other parts of Greece,
including Macedonia, Attica, Crete and others. The different sources are
difficult to tell apart megascopically; however, all bigio antico
reported in this document apparently comes from Lesbos and is so indicated by
the addition of the Italian "di Lesbo". Quarried 1st
through 3rd c. AD. Roman name marmor Lesbium (Lesbos
variety only); and Italian name translates as "ancient gray".
References and Photo G88 (p 179-180; f 201), MSG89 (p 158-159; f 16a), LPT99
and R01 (pl 1: C4).
Buildings: 1, 15?, 31, 32, 43, 66,
97, 99, 121, 130?, 133, 138, 143, 175, 190, 204, 218, 220, 248, 319; SAB.
Uses: common wall and floor veneer,
and rare columns.
I3b Bigio
lumachellato (a
subvariety of the Lesbos bigio antico):
dark gray marble with light gray to white patches which vary from irregular to
loop-shaped cross-sections of rudist pelecypods (Megalodon sp.) and rare coral.
Source and Quarried same as the bigio antico from Lesbos. Roman name
marmor Lesbium; and Italian name
translates as "gray lamellibranch" (or "gray
fossiliferous"), where lamellibranch is another name for mollusc pelecypods
but is generally used by Italian stonecutters to mean any conspicuous fossils.
References and Photos M85 (p 59), G88 (p 179-180), MSG89 (p 158-159; f 16b),
AN89 (p 65-66), DW92 (p 158), LPT99 and R01 (pl 7: B8).
Buildings:
32, 33, 43, 99, 114, 117, 120, 123, 133, 134, 143, 147, 187, 203, 218?, 220,
248, 319, 344; SCB.
Uses:
common wall and floor veneer, and columns.
I4 Breccia
corallina: limestone breccia with white to yellowish, angular, pebble- to
boulder-size clasts of micritic limestone with sharp, well-defined outlines.
The matrix is red to organish and, less often, pinkish or brownish in color. It
tends to weather quickly and so often has a fractured, pitted appearance. It is
similar in appearance to the broccatelli d'Egitto and, to a lesser
extent, cipollino rosso brecciato. Source near Vezirhan and probably
other sites in the province of Bilecik (in ancient Bithynia), northwestern
Turkey. Quarried 1st c. BC into the Roman period, and again in
modern times. Roman name marmor sagarium (= marble of Sagarius, a
reference to the Sakarya River which is near the quarry); and Italian name
translates as "coral breccia", where corallina comes from the pink/red matrix which has the same color
as some corals. The stone tends to weather quickly (i.e., old slabs usually
have a fractured and pitted appearance). References and Photos M85 (p 45-46;
pl 7), G88 (p 238-240; f 247, 251), MSG89 (p 166-167; f 22a, 22c), AN89 (15 on
p 112), DW92 (p 157-158; e in pl 1), PB98 (p 8-9; pl 41-44), L02 and R01 (pl:
A5-A7, B5-B7, C1-C8).
Buildings:
133.
Uses:
rare floor veneer.
I5 Breccia Medicea (a variety of Breccia
di Serravezza antica): marble breccia with light to dark gray, yellow and
green, angular, gravel-size marble clasts in a purplish matrix. Source near
Monte Corchia, Serravezza, Stazzema and Versilia, province of Lucca, Apuane
Alps, northwestern Italy. Quarried possibly Roman period (c. unknown) but
also during the Renaissance and later. Roman unknown; Italian name translates
as "Medici breccia", apparently a reference to the Medici family.
Reference for breccia Medicea LT99. References and Photos for breccia
di Serravezza antica M85 (p 51,
381 in pl 12), G88 (p 240-241), MSG89 (p 194, f 47a) and PB98 (p 16; pl 95).
Buildings:
66, 120, 147.
Uses: rare wall veneer.
I6 Breccia
rossa appenninica: marble breccia with white, brown and pink,
gravel-size marble clasts in a dark brownish red to purplish matrix. Clasts are
rounded to mainly angular, and deformed (elongated and/or with serrated edges).
Source near Pegazzino and
Biassa in the Apuan Alps, northwestern Italy. Quarried Roman period (c.
unknown), and again from the 17th c. to the present. Roman name
unknown; Italian name translates as "Appennine [Mtns.] red breccia".
References and Photos M85 (p 53), MSG89 (p 189, f 42a), PB98 (p 15-16; pl
94), BL99a and R01 (pl 3: C7).
Buildings:
66, 130, 133, 138, 190, 233?.
Uses:
rare wall and floor veneer.
I7 Breccia
di Settebassi: marble breccia with white to yellowish and rarely red,
angular, pebble- to cobble-size clasts of fine-grained (< 1 mm) marble in a
reddish to purple matrix. The clasts tend to be tightly packed and show
parallel alignment. Source Island of Skyros (various localities) and possibly
other neighboring islands, western Aegean Sea, Greece. Quarried 1st
c. BC into the Roman period. Roman name marmor
scyrium or scireticum [or scyreticum] (= marble of Skyros); and
Italian name translates as "breccia of Settebassi", where
Settebassi is the name of a villa near Rome where this breccia was found. The
stone is also sometimes referred to by the Italian version of its Roman name: marmo
di sciro. Some of what has been identified here as breccia di Settebassi may be the similar-looking breccia Medicea or breccia di Serravezza
antica. References and Photos M85
(p 47-48; 282 in pl 9 and 311 in pl 10); G88 (p 232-235; f 240), MSG89 (p
192-193; f 46a-46c), AN89 (3 on p 112), DW92 (p 156-157; d in pl 2), PB98 (p 5;
pl 5-8), LT99b and R01 (pl 4: A1-A3, B2-B3, C1-C9).
Buildings:
24?, 33, 49, 60?, 120, 133?, 319.
Uses:
rare wall veneer and columns.
I8 Cipollino
(or cipollino verde): chloritic
marble with alternating light to dark gray, yellowish, and/or light to dark
green bands, where the bands are narrow, parallel and/or deformed (contorted
and micro-faulted) with occasional white inclusions. Source Carystos, Styra
and other sites on the Island of Euboea, western Aegean Sea, Greece. Quarried
1st c. BC through Byzantine period. Roman name marmor caristium [or carystium] (= marble of Carystos); and
Italian name translates as "(green) onion", because it is layered
like an onion. References and Photos M85 (p 58; 566, 569 in pl 17), G88 (p
181-183; f 204, 205), MSG89 (p 202-203; f 56a-56c), AN89 (11 on p 112), DW92 (p
156; c in pl 2), PB98 (p 5-6; pl 11-12) and R01 (pl 3: B1-B5).
Buildings:
15, 33, 133, 143, 218.
Uses:
rare wall and floor veneer, and columns.
I9 Cipollino mandolato: pink marble
with thick (few cm's), almost nodular layers that are sometimes brecciated or
cut by thick white veins. The variety seen in Cairo differs from the more
typical cipollino mandolato which has less layering and more
conspicuous, ovoid (almond-like) white or pink nodules in a green, pink or
purple matrix. Source occurs along a 100 km stretch of the central Pyrenees
Mountains between Santa Marie de Campan (province of Hautes Pyrιnιes) and Esplas
de Serou (province of Ariege), southern France. Quarried 3rd c. AD
until present. The Roman quarries (2nd c. AD onward) are near Pont
de la Taule, and the medieval and moderns ones are near Santa Marie de Campan.
Roman name unknown; French name marbre campan; Italian name translates to
"onion [with] almonds", the latter referring to the almond-like
nodules. References and Photos M85 (p 58-59; 585 & 588 in pl 17), G88 (p
183; f 207), MSG89 (p 204-205; f 57a-57b), ALRT02 and R01 (pl 3: B6-B8).
Buildings: 123.
Uses: rare wall veneer.
I10 Cipollino
rosso
a. Cipollino rosso venato (veined variety): marble with
alternating, contorted white to light gray and light to dark red bands or
veins, where the gray veins are commonly discontinuous or replaced with
elongated/deformed patches of the same color.
b. Cipollino
rosso brecciato (brecciated
variety): marble with white to commonly light gray or rarely black,
medium-grained, subrounded marble clasts in a red matrix. Occasionally, there
are large red, clast-free areas or textures transitional with the veined
variety. This stone can be similar in appearance to both breccia corallina
and broccatelli d'Egitto.
Source Asin Kurin near Milas (ancient
Iasos in Caria), southwestern Turkey. Quarried 3rd c. AD through
Byzantine period, and again in modern times. Roman name marmor carium or iassense
(= marble of Caria or Iasos); and Italian names translate as "veined red
onion" and "brecciated red onion". The "venato"
suffix in the name of the veined variety is introduced here to clearly
distinguish it from the brecciated variety. In the literature the veined
variety is referred to simply as cipollino rosso. The latter is also
referred to by the Italians as Iassense rosso brecciato (= red breccia
of Iasos) and Africanone (= due to its similar appearance to Africanco;
I1). References and Photos: veined variety M85 (p 46-47; 262, 265 in pl 8),
G88 (p 243-245; f 244), MSG89 (p 207; f 59a-59b), AN89 (12 on p 112), DW92 (p
156) and PB98 (p 9; pl 45-46); brecciated variety M85 (p 46; 257 in pl 8),
G88 (p 244-245; f 245), MSG89 (p 289; f 127a), PB98 (p 9; pl 47-48) and R01 (pl
3: C4-C5).
Buildings:
veined variety 18, 35, 43, 66, 97, 117, 125, 130, 133, 187, 190, 218, 242,
SAB; brecciated variety 32, 38, 43, 66, 116, 119, 121, 123, 130, 133, 134,
143?, 190, 203?, 218, 220, 221, 255, 281.
Uses:
abundant floor and especially wall veneer, and scarce columns.
I11 Fior
di pesco [or persico]: reddish,
pinkish to purplish marble with highly contorted and brecciated layers, and
white patches and veins. Source near Eretria (20 km south of ancient Chalcis
or modern Halkida), Island of Euboea, western Aegean Sea, Greece. Quarried 1st
c. BC into the Roman period. Roman name marmor
chalcidicum (= marble of Chalcis); and Italian name translates as
"blossom of the peach-tree". The Italians also sometimes call it marmo
rosso di Eretria (= red marble of Eretria). References and Photos M85 (p
57-58; 548, 551 & 555 in pl 16), G88 (p 184-186; f 127), MSG89 (p 212; f
63a-63b), AN89 (3 on p 113), DW92 (p 156), PB98 (p 5; pl 9-10) and R01 (pl 2:
B6-B9).
Buildings:
123, 133, 218, 281?.
Uses:
rare wall veneer.
I12 Granito
violetto: purplish gray, medium- to coarse-grained quartz monzonite. Source
Cigri Dag near Ezine, Troad Peninsula (ancient Troas), northwestern Turkey.
Quarried 4th c. BC to 6th c. AD. Roman name marmor troadense (= marble of Troas);
Italian name translates as "violet granite". References and Photos
M85 (p 68; 790 in pl 23), G88 (p 152-153; f 103), MSG89 (p 236-237; f 82a),
DW92 (p 159) and GLM92 (t 1-5) and PB98 (p 7; pl 28).
Buildings:
1, 120, 143.
Uses:
rare columns.
I13 Greco
scritto: medium-grained marble with dark gray to bluish gray (graphitic)
script-like inclusions and veining on a white matrix that borders, at times, on
brecciation. Source Cap de Garde near Annaba, Algeria. Quarried 1st
to 4th c. AD. Roman name unknown; and Italian name translates as
"Greek script". References and Photos M85 (p 60; 642 & 643 in
pl 19), MSG89 (p 237; f 83a), DW92 (p 153) and R01 (pl 1: B5 & pl 3: A3).
Building:
133, 138, 248, 319.
Uses:
rare wall and floor veneer, and columns.
I14 Marble of Carrara
a. Marmo
bianco di Carrara: mottled dark
and predominately light gray, fine- to medium-grained marble. Source Carrara
(ancient Luna or Luni), northwestern Italy. Quarried 1st c. BC to
3rd c. AD, and again in medieval to modern times. Roman name marmor lunense or lapis lunensis (= marble or stone of Luna); and Italian name
translates as "marble of Carrara". References M85 (p 61-61), G88 (p
265), MSG89 (p 248), DW92 (p 153) and R01 (pl 1: A8).
b. Bardiglio
di Carrara: mottled light and predominately dark gray to black, fine- to
medium-grained marble. Source same as marmo di Carrara. Quarried
Roman period (c. unknown), and again in medieval to modern times. Italian name
has no translation. References and Photos M85 (p 60; 634 in pl 19), MSG89 (p
153; f 13a) and R01 (pl 1: B3).
Buildings: most of the buildings
renovated in the 19th and 20th centuries have some of
these two marbles. Apparently none of the Carrara marble in Cairo is ancient.
In this study the marmo bianco di Carrara is often identified as simply light
gray or "white" marble (U1), and the bardiglio di Carrara as dark
gray or "black" marble (U2).
Uses:
common wall and floor veneer, columns, and door sills and jambs.
I15 Marmo
Pentelico: white to yellowish
white, translucent, fine-grained marble. Source Mount Pentelicon near Athens,
Greece. Quarried 5th c. BC until late Roman period (c. unknown).
Roman name marmor pentelicum (= marble of Pentelicon); and Italian name
translates as "Pentelic marble". References M85(p 61), G88 (p
263) and MSG89 (p 251).
Buildings:
133?, 187.
Uses:
rare floor veneer.
I16 Marmo
di Proconneso (a.k.a. Proconnesian
marble): light gray marble with straight, parallel, dark often bluish
gray bands. Some bands may show faulting. Source Island of Proconnesos or
Marmora, Sea of Marmora, northwestern Turkey. Quarried 6th c. BC
into Ottoman period. Most of the marble imported to Egypt during the Roman
period was Proconnesian. Roman name marmor
proconnesium (= marble of Proconnesos); and Italian name translates as
"marble of Proconnesos". The Italians also sometimes call it marmo cipolla (= banded marble).
References and Photos M85 ( p 60-61; 649 & 652 in pl 19), G88 (p
263-264), MSG89 (p 252; f 99a), DW92 (p 154) and R01 (pl 1: A7).
Buildings:
essentially every building has some of this marble.
Uses:
abundant wall and floor veneer, columns, and door sills and jambs.
I17 Nero
antico: dark gray to mainly black limestone with common to mainly rare,
straight to slightly contorted, thin white to light gray or yellowish veins and
patches plus, rarely, small invertebrate fossils. It is easily confused with
other black, carbonaceous limestones. Source most prominent is Gebel Aziz
(near ancient Chemtou) in Tunisia but there are other sources in Tunisia, Italy
and Greece. Quarried 2nd c. AD to Late Roman period. Italian name
translates as "ancient black". References and Photos M85 (p 57;
539 & 543 in pl 16), G88 (p 193-195), MSG89 (p 254-255; f 101a-101c), AN89
(p 85), PB98 (p 13-14; pl 80) and R01 (pl 1: C1-C2).
Buildings:
49?, 66?, 114?, 203?, 218?.
Uses:
scarce wall and floor veneer, and rarely columns.
I18 Occhio
di pavone rosso [or pavonazzo]: fossiliferous limestone with
red, pink and/or purple, fine-grained calcareous matrix, and white rudist
pelecypod shell fragments up to several cm across plus much smaller echinoid
and foraminifera bioclasts. Source Kutluca, near Izmit (in ancient Nicomedia),
northwestern Turkey. Quarried 2nd to 10th c. AD, and
again in modern times. Roman name marmor triponticum (= marble among
three seas); Byzantine name possibly marmor pneumonusium (=
"marble like a lung", either a reference to its color or, more
likely, its texture); and Italian name translates as "red or purple eye
of the peacock", a reference to the eye-like patterns seen in a peacock's
tail feathers. References and Photos M85 (p 42; 149, 154 & 155 in pl 5),
G88 (p 206-209; f 216-217), MSG89 (p 258-262; f 105a-105b), PB98 (p 7; pl
25-27), L02 and R01 (pl 7: C1-C9).
Buildings:
32, 116?, 123, 125, 130, 133?, 190, 203, 218.
Uses:
scarce wall and floor veneer.
I19 Pavonazzetto:
marble with white clasts of medium-grained (1-3 mm) marble in a red to mainly
purplish matrix cut by purplish-red and rarely green veins. The clasts usually
have edges that are diffuse rather than sharp as in breccia di Settebassi. Source Ischehisar near Afyon (ancient
Docimium in Phrygia), west-central Turkey. Quarried 1st c. BC to 6th
c. AD. Roman name marmor phrygium, synnadicum or docimium (= marble
of Phyrgia, Synnada or Docimium); and Italian name translates as
"purplish". References and Photos M85 (p 59; 600 & 606 in pl
18), G88 (p 169-171; f 125-126), MSG89 (p 264-265; f 109a-109b), AN90 (p
93-94), DW92 (p 156; f in pl 1), PB98 (p 8; pl 37-40) and R01 (pl 2: A2-A9).
Buildings:
32, 43, 66, 123, 130, 133, 147, 190, 319;
SAB.
Uses:
scarce wall veneer and rare columns.
I20 Porfido
serpentino verde (or porfido verde di Grecia, porfido verde
antico or simply serpentino):
andesite to diabase porphyry with large, light to medium green or yellowish
phenocrysts in a dark green groundmass. Source Laconia between KroKeai and
Stephania (near ancient Sparta), Peloponnese, southern Greece. Quarried 1st
c. BC through Roman period. This porphyry and the MP imperial porphyry (see E1
above) were, volumetrically, the two colored decorative stones most heavily
used by the Romans. Greek name krokeatis lithos (stone of Crokeatis); Roman
name lapis lacedaemonius or marmor
lacedaemonium (= stone or marble of Lacedaemon, which is another name for
Sparta); and Italian name translates as "green serpentine
porphyry". References and Photos M85 (p 66; 731 in pl 22), G88 (p
141-144), MSG89 (p 279-281; f 121a-121d), AN89 (14 on p 112), DW92 (p 158; b in
pl 1), PB98 (p 6; pl 13-16) and R01 (pl 18: A1-A4).
Buildings:
123, 147, 189, 190; SCB.
Uses: rare wall veneer.
I21 Rosso
antico: fine-grained,
non-fossiliferous, red to purplish red or mottled light and dark red marble
with occasional black and/or white inclusions or veins. Source Prophitis
Elias, Paganea, Kokkinoghia and other sites near Cape Tainaron (also Taenaros
or Matapan), Peloponnese, southern Greece. Quarried 2nd c. BC into
the Roman period. Roman name marmor
taenarium (= marble of Taenaros); and Italian name translates as
"ancient red". References and Photos M85 (p 59; 596 & 599 in pl
17), G88 (p 187-191; f 198), MSG89 (p 288; f 126a), AN89 (p 95-97), DW92 (p
157; f in pl 2), PB98 (p 6; pl 19-20) and R01 (pl 5: B9).
Buildings:
120, 123, 133, 187?
Uses:
rare wall veneer.
I22 Verde
antico: calcareous serpentinite/marble breccia with pebble- to
cobble-size, angular, white marble clasts plus black to dark green
serpentinite clasts in a medium to dark green matrix with rare bluish and
reddish patches. Source Mount Thyseo near Larisa in Thessaly, east-central
Greece. Quarried 2nd to 6th c. AD. Roman name marmor thessalicum (= marble of
Thessaly); and Italian name translates as "ancient green".
References and Photos M85 (p 63-64; 683, 686 & 689 in pl 20), G88 (p
162-165; f 118), MSG89 (p 292-293; f 13b-13c), AN89 (7 on p 113), DW92 (p 157;
f in pl 2), PB98 (p 5; pl 1-4) and R01 (pl 15: B1-B8).
Buildings:
32, 35, 38, 43, 44, 66, 97, 99, 119, 121, 123, 125, 133, 138, 143, 147, 149,
175, 187, 189, 190, 203, 218, 255, 549; SAB.
Uses: abundant wall and floor veneer,
and scarce columns.