IMPERIAL PORPHYRY

600 Million Years Old

Porphyry from “Mons Porphyry” in the eastern desert, discovered during the reign of Tiberius. The name is thought to originate from  the greek meaning purple, but a more interesting theory is that it comes from the Sanskrit pur-phu meaning red hot embers, the Roman writer Pliney described that “in it’s highest glory it consists of the colour of congealed blood, blackish at first glance but gleaming red when held to the light.” Roman objects and architecture were extensively recycled across Byzantium and throughout the medieval world. It was also reputedly traded by weight.

Alexander Vasiliev suggested that the site of the quarry was lost as a direct consequence of the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The site was not rediscovered until Sir John Wilkinson’s geological expedition in the early 19th century. It is a naive view that the stone was originally favoured just for its colour, the fiery luminosity described in other Roman writing has much deeper roots in Roman divinity. it is also  incorrect in thinking red porphyry from the eastern desert wasn’t used at an earlier date. It can be found across the Mediterranean, one of the most notable uses can be seen in the Mycenaean bronze age Treasury of Atreus.