Marble is always a sight to behold. People often get mesmerized by its distinctive patterns and stunning features.
The name itself is derived from a beautiful greek word “marmaros” which means shining stone. And because of marble’s unmatched elegance and superior durability, it has been a favorite material of some ancient as well as contemporary artists and architects all over the world. Let’s look at the world’s top 10 famous marble landmarks:
Tower of Pisa
Easily one of the most recognizable structures in the world, The Leaning Tower of Pisa is an architectural conundrum that has an interesting history. It’s infamous lean draws millions of tourists per year to take a picture of themselves to make it appear that they are holding it up. The Tower of Pisa was constructed using three of the most elegant and resilient stones in the world; marble, limestone, and quarts.
The Taj Mahal
Located in the city of Agra, India, The Taj Mahal is a marble masterpiece that was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This ivory-white mausoleum attracts more than 7 million tourists every year and is one of the most admired landmarks in the world.
Interesting Fact: The Taj Mahal or “The Crown of The Palace” took 17 years to complete and was built by 22,000 laborers including painters, embroiderers, and stone cutters.
The Washington Monument
Standing 555’ 5-18” tall. The Washington Monument located in Washington DC was the tallest building when it was dedicated in 1185 beating The Cologne Cathedral as the world’s tallest man-made structure. This great American symbol built to commemorate the first President of the United States, George Washington was built from white marble blocks, Maine granite, and blue gneiss.
Interesting Fact: The construction of this majestic obelisk took 40 years to complete and it has an interesting backstory that involves Pope Pius IX.
The Statue of David
This Michaelangelo masterpiece which stands 17 feet tall and weighs more than 12,000 pounds was sculpted from a single block of white marble. It depicts a young David before his battle with Goliath, a breakaway from the traditional portrayal of the other two famous David statues by Donatello and Verrocchio.
Interesting Fact: If you try to observe, the statue’s right hand is out of proportion and too big to fit with the rest of his body. Some suggest that Michaelangelo exaggerated its size to reference the meaning of the biblical figure’s name which is “strong of hand”
The Pantheon
Located in the city of Rome and constructed during ancient Rome to honor the pagan gods. It is primarily made from bricks and concrete but the walls of the and floors of the rotunda are decorated with marble and gilt.
The Pantheon’s domed ceiling was the largest of its kind when the time it was built. There are no windows inside the dome other than the opening that sites at the top which is called Oculus or the eye of the Pantheon.
Parthenon
Located in Athens, Greece, this former temple on the Athenian Acropolis dedicated to the Olympian goddess of wisdom and war, Athena has been around since 447 BC. The main building material is made from Pentelic marble, the first temple to use this type of marble.
The Parthenon has hand-carved statues made from precious marbles lined up on each side to connect the entire structure. During the Ottoman Empire, British nobleman, 7th Earl of Elgin convinced the Turks to allow him to remove these carvings and take them to England. These are now known as Elgin Marbles which Greece has been trying to get them back for years with no success.
Dome of Rock
The Dome of Rock is an Islamic shrine located in Jerusalem. Built during the late 7th Century, it is the oldest existing Islamic monument in the world. The dome’s interior and exterior are decorated with metal plaques, mosaics, and marbles.
The rock from which where the shrine is situated is sacred to both Islam and Jewish faith. It is believed that from this site, The Prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven. The Jews also believed that this was the location where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Located in the capital city of UAE, The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. The grand mosque was made entirely of Macedonian marble. The pure white marble walls are decorated with flower-shaped colorful stones.
Interesting Fact: The entire mosque has a unique lighting system created to resemble the phases of the moon.
Marble Arch
The Marble Arch is a 19th-century white marble monument built to commemorate the victories of Great Britain in the Napoleonic Wars. Made from Carrara marble, a special type of marble that is valued above all other stones. The arch used to be the formal gateway to Buckingham Palace until its relocation to Hyde Park in 1851.
Interesting Fact: Members of the Royal Family and the King’s Troop, Royal House Artillery are the only ones permitted to pass through the Marble Arch which happens in ceremonial processions.
The Supreme Court Building
Also known as the “the Marble Palace”, The Supreme Court Building is the official residence of the Chief Justice of the United States. The principal material of this 43 million dollar monument was marble which costs the US government 3 million dollars on the material alone. The interior columns of the building are made from Italian and Spanish marbles.
Interesting Fact: The Supreme Court Buiding has a basketball court that sits on the 5th floor which is above the actual courtroom. It is aptly named, “The Highest Court in the Land”.
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