To My Family and Uğraş Uzun - Bilkent University

The time spans of these inscriptions reveal the demand peaks for
Docimeum marble. The dates of the Type I and Type II inscriptions coincide: AD
92-119 (Fant, 1989: 28-30). The transition from Type II to Type III is gradual.
Between 119-30, Type II inscriptions became simpler, and between 130-50,
additional information appears on the inscriptions, which is characteristic of Type
III (Dodge, 1991: 35). The latest inscription of this type dates to 236. The more
detailed Type III inscriptions, after the 130’s, possibly indicate a need for a
reorganization of management, and more detailed reports due to a peak in marble
demand (Dodge, 1991: 36). This growing demand is attested by the opening of
new quarries at Carystos (in Euboea, Greece) under Hadrian, and more extensive
work at Chemtou (in Tunisia) under Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius
(Dodge, 1991: 36).
Most of the marble products in the empire, including sarcophagi, were
transported from the quarries of the empire in half-finished form or in quarry
state (Asgari, 1978: 476-80). Docimeum sarcophagi, however, are an exception to
this rule. They were transported in a mostly finished state and had a higher
market value at the destination point in order to justify their high production and
transportation costs (Dodge, 1991: 38). Strabo’s account (Geography, XII, 8. 14)
(Jones, 1988: 507) reveals the high price of Docimeum marble already at the time
of Augustus caused by the transportation expenses:
…and beyond it is Docimaea, a village, and also the quarry of the
“Synnadic” marble (so the Romans call it, though the natives call it
“Docimite” or “Docimaean”). At first this quarry yielded only
stones of small size, but on account of the present extravagance of
the Romans great monolithic pillars are taken from it, which in
their variety of colors are nearly like the alabastrite marble; so that,
although the transportation of such heavy burdens to the sea is
difficult, still, both pillars and slabs, remarkable for their size and
beauty, are conveyed to Rome.
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