Marble: A Cultural Heritage

Marble is one of the most durable natural stones. If you want proof, you need to stand before the magnificent Taj Mahal which manages to captivate the travelers even today. This classic example of brilliant artistry has enthralled one and all and has stood before the test of time. It has emerged directly from the pages of history speaking volumes about the durability and strength of marble. However Taj is not the lone wonder encapsulating the use of marble through times; in fact many a significant architecture has captured the beauty of marble through ages. It was probably the Egyptians who had quarried and brought out natural stones.

Most of their monuments and buildings are made of limestone, marble and granite. Look at the Pyramid of Cheops. It was built with massive limestone blocks. This colossal structure was built sometime in 2560 BC and even till this date it remains to be a structural wonder. The grand structure remains a source of constant amazement for the visitors from all over the world. Most of the pyramids were lined with smooth casing stones. The burial chamber of the Pharaoh was built with granite blocks. However if the Egyptians introduced the natural stone to the world, it was the Greeks who have increased their aesthetic value with their classic creations.

The Temple of Artemis remains one of the wonders of the world. With 127 marble columns, it still remains an architectural wonder. This was one of the grand structures which have extensively used marble. Although much of it is destroyed by the conquerors, the foundation remains a living example of the past glory and grandeur. The Greeks were known to perfect the art of quarrying and they continuously experimented with the styles and shaping techniques. In fact they had perfected the use of marble in architecture. Some of the beautiful structures from the ancient cradle of civilization include the Theseum, Parthenon and Temple of Zeus.

Ancient Greeks were the first few people who introduced the concept of using marbles for the interiors. They used it for homes for making pools and Thasso marble was commonly used in bathrooms. The Romans were not far behind when it came to the construction of beautiful monuments and buildings. The Romans were great road builders. They would line the roads with the help of granite. Granite was also used for making columns in buildings. Granite was mainly used for the construction of columns because of their durable quality. However they would use marble for they added charm to any constructions.

Most of the techniques followed by the Romans are still used by many of the builders. The technique has been used for the construction of monuments, buildings and museums. During the Renaissance, it was found that the use of natural stone has increased and some of the grand structures like monuments, palaces and churches are made with natural stone. Natural stone still remains a popular choice for the interior designers as addition of stones to any design lends a sense of sophisticated elegance.