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Question: How did ancient stone masons (greeks etc) produce columns of such perfect symmetry and smoothness !?
I realise that generations of experience, a good natural eye, and lots of time (and sweat) play a large part, but where there any special techniques/ tricks of the trade !?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
First off, labor was cheap back then, and nobody was presses for time, 2nd, perfection was demanded, anything less wouldn't do!. 3rd, most of the techniques are lost to the annals of time, what you would call "lost knowledge"!. One of the best books that contain a detailed description of how massive structures is "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet!. Check it out, its a good read!. And yes, geometry was everything!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Good symmetry is easily achieved, essentially they had measuring tools as good as ours!. A piece of string fixed at one end produces a perfect circle, a plumb line a perfect vertical line and a translucent tube filled with water (and held in horseshoe fashion) gives a perfect horizontal line!. Combine the last two and you also have a perfect right-angle!. Use the same marked up piece of string several times & you produce several identical pillars!.

As someone has suggested these columns were usually made in sections, so this made the process simpler in terms of the mass handled!. Where columns were fluted (or similar) this detail would normally be added after two or more sections have been rough hewn and fitted together - running flutes seamlessly together cannot reliably be done by other methods!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Speaking specifically of the Greeks, they used a variety of techniques to carve columns!. As a previous poster said, large columns were composed of multiple drums, though smaller columns could be made of a single piece of stone (like those of the Nike temple on the Athenian acropolis)!. Carvings were done in stages, with a rough finish being left on the stone until the columns were actually in place!. After that the final finish would be done by very minute cuttings and polishing!. If a piece was damaged during carving it could be individually discarded and recut; this way the entire column wasn't ruined!. Some ancient Greek monuments were never entirely finished and the rough protective stage was left unfinished!. Check out the stones on the propylaeum in Athens if you ever get the chance, you'll see that they aren't completely polished and that some "handles" have been left on the blocks that would have been used to lift them into place!. The Stoa of Attalos in the Athenian agora was completely restored from 1952 to 1956!. You might be able to find information on how the columns for the new version were cut, as the stone working techniques used were very similar to the ancient techniques!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

They actually aren't perfect, making the achievement even more amazing!. The Greek government has spent years developing computer models of Greek temples (the ones that are left and reconstructing parts) to find out how they were made!. They are NOT perfect (but are smooth), but rather give the illusion so that they are strong enough to hold up the immense columns and what roofs were added!. There was a show recently on the History Channel on this, but I don't know if a book's been written!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

They weren't daft!. Big columns are made from smaller sections that link by pins in the centre!. Bear in mind Greece is in an earthquake zone!. Its good for components to wobble a bit, rather than big items cracking bringing down the whole assembly!.

You can easily made a round section on a lathe!. It might not look like a moderm lathe at all, just does the same job!. Another tool to get a regular profile is a wooden template!.

I don't see that they need "a good eye", its just common sense!.

Of course it helps enormously to start with good materials that are easy to work and give consistant results, so selecting the right piece of marble from the quarry is essential!. No fractures or weaknesses for example!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

you did it, you discoverd the real secret of masonry!.!.!. :-)

its called geometry!. read up on the pythagoran therom; from here you can build objects perfectly square, cirular, with perfect symmetry!. a good eye will only get you close!.

to sosgez ---- these buildings were made, in some cases, thousands of years ago, and with all our common sense and technology, we still cannot build them again today!.!.!. i think you underestimate what it took to build these things

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They just learnt how to make good tools and have good skill through centuries of experience!.
Thye also used mathematical calculations to work out what the coloumn should look like e!.g!. where the grooves were!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

They had Stone Age Lathes with a lot of Troglodyte's pedalling away
and Barny Flint-stone working the cross travelWww@QuestionHome@Com

They used compasses to draw perfect circles on the stone because starting cutting!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

yes they bought still saws from B & Q in the olden January sales!.Www@QuestionHome@Com