Fragment of a round surface plate

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Provision of image

Inventory number

Ακρ. 3748

Category

Tool

Period

Classical Period

Date

Beginning of 5th cent. BC

Dimensions

0.88 x 0.69 x 0.06 m

Material

Marble from Hymettos

Location

Atrium. Parthenon Gallery

Description
Bibliography

Part of a round surface plate employed during the last stage of leveling the surface of the Pre-Parthenon's column drums. A system of strong beams equipped with sixteen handles that facilitated the plate’s transfer and usage was affixed around the plate’s roughly worked top using nails that fitted the corresponding holes.

The plaque’s smooth bottom surface covered with vivid red colour was placed on the drum’s upper surface painting those drum parts that needed leveling. Then the plaque was removed and with the help of other tools (grinders) imperfections “marked” with red paint were worked out. Each plate is estimated to have been about 500 kg heavy and by adding the aforementioned wooden system’s weight the total reached 600 kg.

A modern model next to the plate exhibited in the Museum shows how the plate was used.

Korres, M., From Pentelicon to the Parthenon: The Ancient Quarries and the Story of a Half-Worked Column Capital of the First Marble Parthenon, Athens, 2001, σελ. 108, εικ. 31