This article is about a term used in archaeology. For stones on the island of Poros, see Poros § Geology.
Poros stone is a lightweight, soft, marlylimestone that was widely used in construction and statues of Ancient Greece.[1] There is no precise definition of the term, although its roots go to antiquity,[2] when it was used to designate any porous building rock,[3] regardless of its origin,[4] mostly in contrast with marble. In the 20th century the archeologists continued to use the term in the similarly loose way: "poros [was] made to include almost all light-coloured stones" that were not definitely marble or hard limestone.[3]
The poros stone is one of the chief formations of the Neogene (Miocene or Pliocene) in Greece and it occurs at many places in the Peloponnese, making poros a common construction stone there.[2]
Even when hardened by exposure to the elements, poros is much more readily cut with a knife than is an ordinary limestone. The ease of working with poros is the reason for its extensive use as a building stone, especially for foundations and other architectonic parts that are not exposed to view.[2]
[A] non-petrographicarchaeologist [while in Greece] will not go far astray if he calls by the name of "poros" any [...] easily cut, finely granular, yellow, light cream or gray, dull-lustered and somewhat rough building stone, which effervesces with dilute hydrochloric acid or with acetic acid [...] and usually leaves a fine muddy residue
Washington describes the differences between poros and regular limestone as the former being very finely arenaceous or marly; most often of a pale cream color, also light yellow or light gray; somewhat granular but rather soft and friable and easily cut with a knife, especially when first exposed in the quarry (similar to the volcanic tuffs of Roman Campagna in this last quality, while having nothing in common otherwise).[2]
Hadjidakis et al.,[4] while reviewing the ancient quarries, use the term in its ancient sense, to designate any low-density rock, regardless of its petrographical classification.
Rhodes, Robin F. (1987-10-01). "Rope Channels and Stone Quarrying in the Early Corinthia". American Journal of Archaeology. 91 (4). University of Chicago Press: 545–551. doi:10.2307/505289. ISSN 0002-9114. JSTOR 505289. S2CID 193100232.
Washington, Henry S. (1923-10-01). "Excavations at Phlius in 1892". American Journal of Archaeology. 27 (4). University of Chicago Press: 438–446. doi:10.2307/497795. ISSN 0002-9114. JSTOR 497795. S2CID 192992684.
Hadjidakis, P.; Matarangas, D.; Varti-Matarangas, M. (2003). Ancient quarries in Delos, Greece. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference of Association for the Study of Marble and Other Stones in Antiquity. pp. 273–278.
Frazer, J.G. (1913). Pausanias's Description of Greece. Macmillan and Company, limited. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
January 01, 1970
poros, stone, this, article, about, term, used, archaeology, stones, island, poros, poros, geology, lightweight, soft, marly, limestone, that, widely, used, construction, statues, ancient, greece, there, precise, definition, term, although, roots, antiquity, w. This article is about a term used in archaeology For stones on the island of Poros see Poros Geology Poros stone is a lightweight soft marly limestone that was widely used in construction and statues of Ancient Greece 1 There is no precise definition of the term although its roots go to antiquity 2 when it was used to designate any porous building rock 3 regardless of its origin 4 mostly in contrast with marble In the 20th century the archeologists continued to use the term in the similarly loose way poros was made to include almost all light coloured stones that were not definitely marble or hard limestone 3 Funerary stele made of poros stone Mycenae 16th century B C The poros stone is one of the chief formations of the Neogene Miocene or Pliocene in Greece and it occurs at many places in the Peloponnese making poros a common construction stone there 2 Even when hardened by exposure to the elements poros is much more readily cut with a knife than is an ordinary limestone The ease of working with poros is the reason for its extensive use as a building stone especially for foundations and other architectonic parts that are not exposed to view 2 Contents 1 Ancient term 2 Archeological term 3 References 4 SourcesAncient term editThe Greek geographer Pausanius uses the term poros to describe the material of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia which was built of local shell limestone Theophrastus and Pliny the Elder who borrows the description declares it to be a less dense variant of Parian marble Herodotus also contrasts coarse poros with fine marble 5 Archeological term editHenry Stephens Washington a geologist with a major interest in classical studies declared in 1923 2 A non petrographic archaeologist while in Greece will not go far astray if he calls by the name of poros any easily cut finely granular yellow light cream or gray dull lustered and somewhat rough building stone which effervesces with dilute hydrochloric acid or with acetic acid and usually leaves a fine muddy residue Washington describes the differences between poros and regular limestone as the former being very finely arenaceous or marly most often of a pale cream color also light yellow or light gray somewhat granular but rather soft and friable and easily cut with a knife especially when first exposed in the quarry similar to the volcanic tuffs of Roman Campagna in this last quality while having nothing in common otherwise 2 Hadjidakis et al 4 while reviewing the ancient quarries use the term in its ancient sense to designate any low density rock regardless of its petrographical classification References edit Rhodes 1987 p 545 a b c d e Washington 1923 p 445 a b Frazer 1913 p 503 a b Hadjidakis Matarangas amp Varti Matarangas 2003 p 274 Frazer 1913 pp 502 503 Sources editRhodes Robin F 1987 10 01 Rope Channels and Stone Quarrying in the Early Corinthia American Journal of Archaeology 91 4 University of Chicago Press 545 551 doi 10 2307 505289 ISSN 0002 9114 JSTOR 505289 S2CID 193100232 Washington Henry S 1923 10 01 Excavations at Phlius in 1892 American Journal of Archaeology 27 4 University of Chicago Press 438 446 doi 10 2307 497795 ISSN 0002 9114 JSTOR 497795 S2CID 192992684 Hadjidakis P Matarangas D Varti Matarangas M 2003 Ancient quarries in Delos Greece Proceedings of the 7th International Conference of Association for the Study of Marble and Other Stones in Antiquity pp 273 278 Frazer J G 1913 Pausanias s Description of Greece Macmillan and Company limited Retrieved 2023 09 18 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Poros stone amp oldid 1221903755, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
