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his remark to them was ‘I should be much more amazed if you had made it of stone
from Tibur.’ (D.E. Eichholz).
Plin. H 36.8.49-50: M. Lepidus Q. Catuli in consulatu conlega primus omnium
limina ex umidico marmore in domo posuit magna reprensione. Is fuit consul anno
urbis DCLXXVI. Hoc primum invecti umidici marmoris vestigium invenio, non in
columnis tamen crustisve, ut sopra Carystii, sed in massa ac vilissimo limino usu. Post
hunc Lepidum quadriennio L. Lucullus consul fuit, qui nomen, ut ex re apparet,
Luculleo marmori dedit, admodum delectatus illo, primusque Romam invexit, atrum
alioqui, cum cetera maculis aut coloribus commendentur. ascitur autem in Chio
[Teo] insula, solumque paene hoc marmor ab amatore nomen accepit.
Marcus Lepidus, who was consul with Quintus Catulus, was the very first to lay
down door-sills of Numidian marble in his house; and for this he was sharply
criticized. He was consul in the 676 th year after the founding of the city (78 B.C.) This
is the first indication I can find of the importing of Numidian marble. The marble,
however, was not in the form of columns or slabs, like the Carystus mentioned above,
but came in blocks to be used in the most sordid manner –ad door-sills! Four years
after the consulship of this Lepidus came that of Lucius Lucullus, who gave his name,
as is evident from the facts, to Lucullean marble. He took a great delight in this marble
and introduced it to Rome, although it is in general black and all other marbles are
favoured because of their markings or colours. It is found in the island of Chios
[reading uncertain, emend as Teos] and is almost the only marble to have derived its
name from that of a devotee. (D.E. Eichholz)
Plin. H 36.14.70-1: [70]. Super omnia accessit difficultas mari Romam devehendi,
spectatis admodum navibus. Divus Augustus eam quae priorem advexerat miraculi
gratia Puteolis perpetuis navalibus dicaverat; incendio consumpta ea est. Divus
Claudius aliquot per annos adservatam qua C. Caesar inportaverat, omnibus quae
umquam in mari visa sunt mirabiliorem, in ipsa turribus Puteolis e pulvere
exaedificatis, perductam Ostiam portus gratia mersit. Alia ex hoc cura navium quae
Tiberi subvehant, quo experimentuo patuit non minus aquarum huic amni esse quam
ilo. [71]. Is autem obeliscus quem divus Augustus in circo magno statuit excisus est a
rege Psemetnepserphreo, quo regnante Pythagoras is Aegypto fuit, LXXXV pedum et
dodrantis praeter basim eiusdem lapidis; is vero, quem in campo Martio, novem
pedibus minor, a Sesothide. Inscripti ambo rerum naturae interpretationem
Aegyptiorum philosophia continent.
Above all, there came also the difficult task of transporting obelisks to Rome
by sea. The ships used attracted much attention from sightseers. That which carried the
first of two obelisks was solemnly laid up by Augustus of Revered Memory in a
permanent dock at Puteoli to celebrate the remarkable achievement; but later it was
destroyed by fire. The ship used by the Emperor Gaius for bringing a third was
carefully preserved for several years by Claudius of Revered Memory; for it was the
most amazing thing that had ever been seen at sea. Then caissons made of cement were
erected in its hull at Puteoli; whereupon it was towed to Ostia and sunk there by order
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