Ancient Marble Quarries
Archaeological site
Parian marble, which is white and translucent, with a coarse grain and a very beautiful texture, was the main source of wealth for the island. The famous ancient marble quarries lie on the northern side of the mountain known as Marathi. The marble, which was exported from the 6th century BC onwards, was used by Praxiteles and other great Greek sculptors. It was obtained by means of subterranean quarries driven horizontally or at a descending angle into the rock. Several of these tunnels have yet to be discovered. Sculpted at the entrance of one of them is a bas-relief dedicated to Pan and the nymphs.
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