The White Marbles of the Tomb of Christ in Jerusalem: Characterization and Provenance

Antonia Moropoulou, Ekaterini T. Delegou, Maria Apostolopoulou, Aikaterini Kolaiti, Christos Papatrechas, George Economou and Constantinos Mavrogonatos
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Antonia Moropoulou: Laboratory of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
Ekaterini T. Delegou: Laboratory of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
Maria Apostolopoulou: Laboratory of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
Aikaterini Kolaiti: Laboratory of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
Christos Papatrechas: Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (I.G.M.E.), 13677 Athens, Greece
George Economou: Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (I.G.M.E.), 13677 Athens, Greece
Constantinos Mavrogonatos: Department of Geology & Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-32

Abstract: In this work, samples of the white marbles enclosing the Tomb of Christ, as well as samples from the interior marble facades of the Holy Aedicule structure surrounding the Tomb of Christ in the Church of Resurrection in Jerusalem, are investigated using petrographic and isotopic analysis. The aim is to characterize the marble samples and investigate their provenance. The results demonstrate that all examined marble samples originate from Proconnesos (Marmara island), and can be attributed to the so-called Proconnesos-1 variety. Published maximum grain size (MGS) and isotopic (δ 18 O and δ 13 C) values of Proconessos quarries are compared with the respective values displayed by the marble samples of the Holy Aedicule, aiming to achieve—to a certain degree—intra-site discriminations. A number of ancient quarries are excluded through this double parameter criterion as sources for the examined Holy Aedicule marbles. The discussion of petrographic and isotopic results in relation to historical testimonies and previously published archaeometry results, regarding the mortars of the Holy Aedicule, reveal that Proconnesos marble was the material of choice used at different construction phases of the Holy Aedicule, from the time of Constantine the Great and throughout the centuries, both for the cladding of the Holy Tomb and the interior facings of the Tomb Chamber and the Chapel of the Angel.

Keywords: Holy Sepulchre; Church of Resurrection; petrography; isotopic analysis; Proconnesos; cultural heritage; monument; history; archaeometry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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