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Source Image: PR117_01_09 of Syracuse Quarries

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Description

Deep tunnel in the quarries at Syracuse on Sicily.

Monument
Syracuse Quarries 
Monument Type
Quarry 
Material(s)
Limestone (Visual identification)  
Date
bc 500 - ad 300 
Keywords
Quarryface  
Collections
Syracuse  

Location

Original Location
Syracuse 

Evidence for working practices

1. Quarry-face

Process
Quarrying
Description
The quarry-face in the largest open-air quarry at Syracuse is close to vertical but is tunnelled into in places. These tunnels presumably follow especially high quality beds of stone.

Notes

The Syracuse quarries to the north-west of centre of the city supplied material for building at the site throughout its history. In the late 5th century BC the quarries were famously worked by Athenian prisoners following Athens' defeat in the war against various Sicilian cities, notably Syracuse. This particular tunnel, or cave, was named 'Orecchio di Dionisio' ('Ear of Dionysius') by Carravagio in the 16th century.

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