Mr Cadcll on Antique Marbles, Alabasters, at Rome. 
Account of Antique Marbles, Alabasters, Granites, at Rome^ 
The many large columns of foreign marble and granite at 
Rome are amongst the remarkable remains of ancient magni- 
ficence, and vestiges of the seat of the most powerful empire 
that ever existed in Europe. Ravenna, which was the residence 
of Valentinian and Theodoric, also possesses some. At Venice 
there are some columns from the Levant. In the cathedral of 
Pisa there are columns of granite, and in some other places of 
Italy there are antique col unions of foreign marble. But it is at 
Rome that by far the greatest quantity of marble columns are 
seen ; many of them are employed in forming tlie colonnades of 
the naves of the churches, and, in that situation, pre-sent a beau- 
tiful view, which is not to be seen in any other city. The 
church of St Paul on the Via Ostiensis is the most magnificent 
in respect to the number and magnitude of the marble columns 
which separate the five porticos or naves. 
The number, magnitude, and variety of the ancient columns 
and marbles is admirable at this day, after they have been ex- 
posed to the action of time for 1800 years, and the Roman 
authors speak of the sumptuous magnificence of these objects 
when recently brought from the quarries. 
The word Marble was applied anciently to stones susceptible 
of polish, and distinguished by the beauty of their colours. The 
word is now usually confined to denote stones composed of car- 
bonate of lime, of an agreeable colour, and taking a good.polish. 
There are no rocks of marble in the country near Rome. 
The Romans, therefore, in the time of their power, had recourse 
to the marble quarries of Carrara and of foreign countries, and 
chiefly to those in the eastern part of the Mediterranean, in or- 
der to adorn their buildings. Pliny mentions, that the first 
marble columns were brought to Rome 50 years before the first 
consulship of Augustus, and the importation continued for 
about 200 years, as long as tlie city was in a flourishing state. 
Columns from Mount Hymettus. — It was only 50 years be- 
fore the first consulship of Augustus that the first marble co- 
lumns were brought to Rome by Crassus the orator, and he 
first employed marble columns in a private building. These 
columns \vere from Mount Hymettus, near Athens. He was 
reproached by the public opinion for this unusual magnificence. 
