Download Pdf of Dissertation - Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M ...

was called “Caesar” rather than “Augustus” when he was referred to as a private citizen,
and not as Head of State. Therefore, one can deduce that some quarries belonged to the
Emperor’s personal possessions, and were outside of public control. 327 On the other hand,
the letters CAES could also mean CAES(ura), the highly-trained “cutting team” that knew
how to follow the natural grain of the bedrock and cut it free of imperfections that might
compromise a stone when put to use.
A number of abbreviations is frequently found on blocks of marble coming from
the quarries of Teos (africano), Simitthus (giallo antico), Carystos (cipollino), Chios
336
(portasanta) and on Parian white marble used for sculptures. 328 The timeframe for their use
was from A.D. 64 until A.D. 236, after which they are no longer quarried. 329 The following
initials are normally found:
• N(umerus): the shipping number of the block or column shaft itself.
• EX RATIONE followed by the name of the quarry’s contractor, usually an Imperial
slave: “Credited to the account of…”, used from the age of Vespasian onwards. 330
• SUB CURA: meaning “under the supervision of…”;
• CAES(aris): identifies the imperial ownership of the marble item;
327 Fant 1993, 83.
328 Pensabene 2002a, 19.
329 An inscription possibly dated to Marcus (Licinius?) Crassus’ consulship might provide the year 64 A.D. as
terminus post quem for the introduction of quarry-marks. A block of giallo antico found in Rome and
recorded by L. Bruzza in 1870 has the inscription: M. CRASSO COS EX R LAE / NCCCXCIIX (opposite
side). Trans: “Under the consulship of Marcus Crassus, (this block) was credited to the account of Laetus.
Number 398.” (Bruzza 1870, 187, n. 220.) List of consuls from: Degrassi 1952, 17.
330 Pensabene 1998a, 358.