List of largest monoliths explained

This is a list of monoliths organized according to the size of the largest block of stone on the site. A monolith is a large stone which has been used to build a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. In this list at least one colossal stone over ten tons has been moved to create the structure or monument.

In most cases ancient civilizations had little, if any, advanced technology that would help them move these monoliths. The most notable exception is that of the ancient Greeks and Romans, who had cranes and treadwheels to help lift colossal stones (see list of ancient Greek and Roman monoliths).

This article also includes a list of modern experimental archaeology efforts to move colossal stones using technologies available to the respective ancient civilizations.

Most of these weights are based on estimates by published scholars; however, there have been numerous false estimates of many of these stones presented as fact. To help recognize exaggerations, an introductory description shows how to calculate the weight of colossal stones from first principles.

Calculating the weight of monoliths

In the cases of smaller monoliths it may be possible to weigh them. However, in most cases monoliths are too large or they may be part of an ancient structure so this method cannot be used. The weight of a stone can be calculated by multiplying its volume and density. Each of these presents challenges.

Volume

To obtain accurate estimates, one needs to survey the monolith, including realistic and explicit assessment of the shapes of inaccessible portions, and then calculate the volume and estimate volumetric errors, which vary crudely as the cube of linear uncertainties.

Density

The density of most stone is between 2 and 3 tons per cubic meter. Basalt weighs about 2.8 to 3.0 tons per cubic meter; granite averages about 2.75 metric tons per cubic meter; limestone, 2.7 metric tons per cubic meter; sandstone or marble, 2.5 tons per cubic meter.[1] [2] [3] [4] Some softer stones may be lighter than 2 tons per cubic meter; for example, volcanic tuff or some types of sandstone weigh about 1.9 tons per cubic meter.[5] [6] [7] Since the density of most of these stones varies, it is necessary to know the source of the stone to obtain accurate measurements.[8] [9] Identifying the rock type alone is not sufficient, as this table[10] illustrates:

Densities of common rocks
in g/cm3 or tons/m3! Material !! Density
1.7–2.3
1.9–2.7
2.0–2.7
2.5–2.8
2.5–2.8
2.6–3.0
2.7–3.1

Simply identifying the monolith as sandstone would allow a ± 15% uncertainty in the weight estimate.In practice, one would measure the density of the monolith itself, and preferably document any variation in density within the monolith, as it may not be homogeneous. Non-destructive methods of density measurements are available (e.g., electron back-scatter); alternatively, the site may contain already-separated fragments of the monolith which can be used for laboratory measurements or on-site techniques. At the crudest, a weighing device and a bucket can obtain two significant figures for a density value.

Quarried monoliths

This section lists monoliths that have been at least partially quarried but not moved.

WeightName/SiteTypeCountryLocationBuilderComment
[11] Forgotten StoneBlockLebanonBaalbekRoman Empire19.6 m long, 6 m wide, ≥5.5 m high
Stone of the SouthBlockLebanonBaalbekRoman Empire19.5–20.5 m long, 4.34–4.56 m wide, 4.5 m high
Unfinished obeliskObeliskEgyptAswanAncient Egypt41.75 m long, 2.5–4.4 m wide
Stone of the Pregnant WomanBlockLebanonBaalbekRoman Empire20.31–20.76 m long, 4–5.29 m wide, 4.21–4.32 m high
Statue of AhimsaStatueIndiaMangi-Tungi, Nashik district of MaharashtraGyanmati, 2016108feet
BawangajaStatueIndiaBarwani district of Madhya Pradesh84feet
400–600 tGommateshwara statueStatueIndiaChavundaraya60feet tall, over 30feet wide
Rishabha Statue at Gopachal HillStatueIndiaGwalior Fort of Madhya PradeshJain laymen58.4feet tall
Granite column ColumnEgyptMons ClaudianusRoman EmpireCa. 17.7 m (59 feet) long

Moved monoliths

This section lists monoliths that have been quarried and moved.

data-sort-type="number"WeightName/SiteTypeLocationBuilderComment
1,250 t Thunder StoneBoulder, Statue pedestalSaint Petersburg, RussiaRussian Empire, 1770Moved 6 km overland for shipment, and cut from 1,500 t to current size in transport[12]
1,000 tRamesseumStatue Thebes, EgyptAncient Egypt
800 t eachTrilithon (3×)BlocksBaalbek, LebanonRoman EmpirePlus about 24 blocks 300 tons each[13]
700 t eachColossi of Memnon (2×)Statues Thebes, EgyptAncient EgyptTransported 420miles from el-Gabal el-Ahmar (near modern-day Cairo) over land without using the Nile.[14]
520 tons, 170 tons, and 160 tonsGreat Stele, King Ezana's Stele, Obelisk of AxumStelaeAxum, EthiopiaThe stelae were moved about 2.6miles. King Ezana's stele and the "Obelisk" of Axum were among seven such monuments set up in Axum in the 4th century AD. The Great Stele was never successfully erected and broke into pieces at its present site.
400 t[15] Temple in complex for Khafre's PyramidGiza, Egypt
300–500 t[16] Masuda no iwafuneAsuka, Nara, JapanLarge stone structure approximately 11 meters in length, 8 meters in width, and 4.7 meters In height
340 t[17] Levitated MassLos Angeles, California, United StatesSculpture by Michael Heizer, 2012Moved 106 miles.[18]
330 tThe Broken Menhir of Er GrahMenhirLocmariaquer, Brittany, FranceNeolithic(4700 BC)Moved 10–20 km. It once stood but was later broken in 4
250–300 t[19] Western Stone, Temple MountBlockJerusalem, Israel[20] Herod, King of Judea during the Second Temple periodWeight is disputed; a 2006 analysis estimated the depth of this stone at only 1.8–2.5 m, for a weight of 250–300 t. Weight formerly said to be 550 to 600 t.[21] [22]
230 tRoof slab Ravenna, ItalyOstrogothic Kingdom
220 t[23] Menkaure's PyramidGiza, EgyptLargest stones in mortuary temple
200 t[24] Sahure's pyramid Saqqara, EgyptLargest stones over king's chamber
200 t[25] Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen SitesKorea Largest stone at the site
WeightName/SiteTypeLocationBuilderComment

Lifted monoliths

This section includes monoliths that were quarried, moved and lifted.

Erected in upright position

Monoliths known to have been lifted into an upright position:

WeightName/SiteTypeLocationBuilderComment
[62] Alexander ColumnColumnSaint Petersburg, RussiaRussian EmpireLifted in upright position in 1832
[63] Lateran Obelisk and Obelisk of TheodosiusPair of ObelisksRome, Italy & Istanbul, TurkeyThutmose IIILifted in upright position originally in 15th century BC as a pair outside the temple of Amun at Karnak, Thebes; both subsequently shipped to Alexandria in the 4th century AD – one then shipped to Rome and erected in 357 AD by Constantius II and the other to Constantinople and installed in 390 AD by Theodosius I. Both partly broken, now 32.18m (Rome) and 19.6m (Istanbul) high.
Vatican ObeliskObeliskSt. Peter's Square, Vatican CityAncient EgyptRemoved to Rome in ancient imperial times and re-erected. Relocated in an upright position by Domenico Fontana in 1586 for Pope Sixtus V.
285 tPompey's PillarColumnAlexandria, EgyptDiocletianColumn shaft 20.75 m long, of pink granite (lapis syeneites) quarried in Aswan. Erected 298–303 AD and crowned with a grey granite Corinthian capital and 7 m-tall statue in porphyry.
Luxor ObeliskObeliskParis, FranceRelocated and lifted in upright position by Apollinaire Lebas in 1836
170 tons & 160 tonsKing Ezana's Stele the Obelisk of AxumStelaeAxum, EthiopiaKingdom of AxumEzana of Axum and before.The stelae were moved about 2.6miles from their quarries. They were the largest Axumite stelae to survive installation; larger attempts failed. The "Obelisk" of Axum was removed from a standing position in 1937, cut into five pieces, and taken to Rome to be re-erected. It was again set up in Ethiopia at its original location in 2005.

Lifted clear off the ground

Monoliths that have been placed on a towering structure:

WeightHeight of the towerName/SiteTypeLocationBuilderComment
80 t[64] 66 m (Vimana)Brihadisvara TempleAmalaka block Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, IndiaChola Empire (1010 AD)Block of granite, a square of 7.8 m
25 t[65] 66 m (Vimana)Brihadisvara TempleKhapuri block Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, IndiaChola Empire (1010 AD)Cupolic granite dome

Monoliths known or assumed to have been lifted clear off the ground by cranes into their position:

WeightHeightName/SiteTypeLocationBuilderComment
230 t~15 mRoof slab Ravenna, ItalyOstrogothic Kingdom
19 mJupiter templeCornice blockBaalbek, LebanonRoman Empire
19 mJupiter templeArchitrave-frieze block Baalbek, LebanonRoman Empire
~34 mCapital block Rome, ItalyRoman EmpireDedicated in 113 AD
Roman column monuments like Trajan's Column, though not often themselves monolithic, were built using very large sculpted stone blocks, stacked atop one another using cranes and lewises. The capital block of the column was usually even larger and heavier than the column drums. The columns of Marcus Aurelius, Antoninus Pius, and Constantine, and the lost columns of Theodosius, Arcadius, and Leo were all constructed in this way, on monumental pedestals and crowned with colossal statues. A few were monoliths, including the Column of Diocletian in Alexandria, called "Pompey's Pillar", the "Column of the Goths" and the Column of Marcian in Constantinople, and the lost Column of Antoninus Pius in Rome.

List of efforts to move and install stones

These are listed with the largest experiments first; for additional details of most experiments see related pages.

See also

Sources

Notes and References

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  81. [Theories about Stonehenge]
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