The temples that housed them were in color also.
Architecture with colored marble.
To us classical antiquity means white marble.
The properties of marble and its uses.
Seeing these classic statues recreated in vivid colors seems gaudy and almost obscene to us today because we expect ancient greek statuary to bear that dignified blank white look.
Not so to the greeks who thought of their gods in living color and portrayed them that way too.
Very few rocks have as many uses as marble.
It is a calcitic white marble.
It is used for its beauty in architecture and sculpture.
It is used for its optical properties in cosmetics paint and paper.
Historically color has always been seen as a status symbol and our collective tastes have definitely changed over the centuries.
At agra the tomb of itmad ud daula completed in 1628 was built entirely of white marble and decorated in elaborate pietra dura mosaic an inlay technique of using cut and fitted highly polished colored stones to create images.
Architecture under shah jahan.
This italian variety has lasted for centuries and is the protagonist of many relevant architectural projects dated in the period of classical rome the renaissance and the baroque.
This detail allows this marble type to be used both indoors as well as outdoors.
It is used for its chemical properties in pharmaceuticals and agriculture.