This Weird Island Is Made Entirely of Marble

There’s a Greek island belonging to the Cyclades in the central Aegean Sea full of stunning marble. It’s often referred to as The Island of White Marble due to how much quality marble comes from the island. While it’s a bit of a misnomer to say this island is made entirely of marble, it is mostly made of this stone and has such a long history of producing quality marble and sculptures that it’s not entirely wrong. Even many of the buildings, like the castle on the island, were built specifically using the beautiful stone present.

Many Greek city-states fought to control this island because the quality of marble exported from the island led to wealth that everyone wanted. The marble was so pristine that it even went on to set the bar for most high-quality white marble out there, even to this day.

Curious about what island is made almost entirely of marble and what it’s used for now? To get the answers, you’ll have to keep reading. You may be surprised to find that it’s currently one of the most popular island destinations in all of Greece .

The Island Made of Marble

The island made out of marble is known as Paros. There are actually two, and while Paros is one, the other is Delos. Both are Greek Islands. Paros is just south of Delos. However, Paros had much more marble to be mined.

Paros isn’t entirely made of marble, but it was often called The White Marble Island due to the plentiful high-quality marble found on and on the island. Additionally, the island is mostly made of marble.

About Paros

Paros rises above the sea, with a maximum height of 2,529 miles above sea level. Based on information scientists have about the island, it appears to have been settled since Neolithic times.

While currently the island only has roughly 12,000 inhabitants, for a while, it was at its peak with over 60,000.

The Marble

It’s estimated that about 70 to 80 percent of Greek antiquities, including popular sculptures like Venus de Milo, came from marble slabs on Paros. The island was full of white marble. This marble had several characteristics that made it so high-quality. These were primarily its clearness, its limpidity, and its ability to capture light.

The marble was so fine that “Parian” became the common term to describe marble or china of equally fine material and qualities.

The Main Competitor to Parian Marble

While Parian marble was highly sought after, it wasn’t the only marble around that was highly desired. Pentelic marble originated from Mount Pentelicus in Athens. It was another white marble that was uniform in color. However, this one had a faint yellow tint that made it look almost gold under the slight.

Both were used in temples and to make statues.

Marble Brought Wealth

The Parian marble was the main source of income and wealth for Paros. The quarries are located on the northern side of the Marathi Mountains, which are now known as Capresso. The marble from these queries was exported starting in the 6th century BCE.

Famous Greek sculptors, like Praxiteles, Polyklitos, and Scopas, paid a hefty sum to get their hands on this quality stone for their sculptures . Additionally, several skirmishes occurred over the right to own this island between neighboring lands.

How Marble Was Mined

Traditionally, the marble on Paros was mined by making quarries under the ground. Usually, these tunnels were horizontal under the surface or gradually descended deeper into the rock. This meant marble had to be mined in the dark. This marble was often called “Lychnites,” “Lychneus.” or “Lygdos,” after the word lychnos for “lamp.”

It’s thought that the marble on the island had been used for centuries. However, originally, small rocks and pebbles of marble were picked up and used to create utensils and figurines. It wasn’t until the 7th century BCE or so that actual quarrying began, and it didn’t begin to pick up speed until the 6th century BCE.

There is one particularly well-known quarry on the island. It’s often called The Nymphs , due to the relief carved on the left side of the gallery. This relief was said to be a tribute by Adamantas from Thrace to the Nymphs, sometime in the 4th century. Most of the piece is still there, though a part of it was detached to be inlaid in the monastery of St. Minas.

Paros Today

While the quarries are still on the island, very few are used anymore. The marble that is still mined is mostly used for archaeological restorations. Paros is still a popular island but is now known more for tourism than marble. The island stands out from others thanks to its beautiful sand beaches, transparent waters, and Cycladic architecture.

There have been a few other attempts to work the marble in more modern times, but there hasn’t been a viable option to mass extract and export.

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