written and posted by members of Lancashire Dead Good Poets' Society

Saturday, 10 September 2022

Marmoreal

Following the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday afternoon, what you are reading is take two of my marmoreal (of or like marble ) blog. Think of this first section as being a prologue. For most of us, the Queen has been a constant in our lives, the longest reigning British monarch. For seventy years we have been Elizabethans. Now we are new Caroleans. The transition is going to be a strange one. I expected there would be marble busts aplenty of Queen Elizabeth II and that I would be able to incorporate an image of one into today's piece; a marmoreal in memoriam, so to speak. It seems I was overly optimistic. There are busts for sure, in bronze, in limestone, in white granite (bianco del mar), even in porcelain, but not in marble. Maybe it's not fashionable any more, maybe it requires a level of skilled workmanship in the specific material that few have, maybe Elizabeth's marble memorial is still to be created.

Marble is a metamorphic rock; i.e. what was originally sedimentary carbonate rock (most commonly limestone or dolomite) has been transformed by the action of temperatures in excess of 150 C and often considerable pressure into a different structure without it having melted. Typically those original carbonate mineral grains have crystallized (or re-crystallized) in the transformation into an interlocking mosaic thoroughly meriting the name ฮผฮฌฯฮผฮฑฯฮฟฯ‚ (marmaros ), ancient Greek for crystalline or shining rock. Sometimes its tone is uniformly pure. Often it is shot through with colouration from impurities, giving a striated, marbled (QED) effect.  

There are many types and grades of marble. As chance would have it, the purest, fine-grained white marble came historically from Greece, Pentelic marble quarried on Mount Pentelicus in Attica, and Parian marble from the island of Paros, which we visited in 2019. Either or both would have been the source of the marble that was used in the construction of so many ancient Greek buildings with their ornate columns, friezes and statuary.

a marble forest
Of course there are other famous 'named' marbles. Carrara from Italy is probably most widely known. Then there is Makrana from Rajasthan in India. which was used to build the Taj Mahal, Nero Marquina from Spain, a black marble, Purbeck, the commonest English marble, and Prokonnesos, fittingly from Marmara Island in Turkiye, though there are dozens more. Turkiye is actually the world's biggest exporter of marble (with 42% of the global share) followed by Italy, Greece and Spain. Unsurprisingly, the modern demand for marble is not for colonnades or sculpture but for flooring, kitchen work surfaces and luxury bathrooms.

What I did light upon when searching the marmoreal world with regal connections was this exquisite statue of Aphrodite (below) currently on display in the British Museum but actually on loan from the Royal Collection. It dates from the Antonine period (2nd century AD) and is a Roman copy of an earlier Greek original from approximately 200 BC, whereabouts now unknown. This Roman sculpture was brought to England during the first Carolean era by King Charles I, a renowned collector of Roman antiquities and beautiful women.

the Antonine Aphrodite
It was sold to the King by Duke Vincenzo II of Mantua and is listed in a Royal Collection inventory of 1631 as having been acquired from the Duke's Gonzago collection. When Charles I was executed, it was auctioned off in 1650 as part of the Commonwealth Inventory Sale. It went for ยฃ600 to the artist Peter Lely, but was returned to the Royal Collection in 1682, some twenty years after the restoration of the monarchy. At the beginning of the last century it was relocated from Kensington Palace to Windsor Castle, where it graced the Orangery for decades. It has been on long-term loan to the British Museum since 1963.

Although marble is thought of as being durable, it is not nearly as tough as an igneous rock like granite. When exposed to an increasingly polluted atmosphere full of acids, the calcium carbonate in the rock reacts with the acids to produce salts and carbon dioxide, corroding the surface. (For the same reason, proud marble worktop owners, you should never clean them with vinegar.)

But marble is solid, you'll agree, and a marble floor is a durable thing of beauty. Which leads me on to recounting the strangest sight I ever beheld. It was while holidaying on the Greek island of Zakynthos some years ago. We were staying in a pleasantly appointed villa with marble floors. We had been advised that we were in earthquake territory and that there had been a series of tremors in preceding weeks, but nothing too serious. We were also told, if we felt one, that the safest thing to do was to stand in a doorway. (Not good advice, by the way. The safest place is under a table.)

dappled shade, Zakynthos villa
The tremor struck late one afternoon. First of all, everything went quiet, the cicadas ceased droning, the birds stopped twittering. Then there was a loud rumble like a jet plane and the shockwave hit. It was over in a matter of seconds. There was no structural damage, a few things rattled, but the spookiest part of all was to see that marble floor momentarily act like a wobbling jelly as the shockwave passed through. I know in theory that every solid thing is more space than substance, (I've even written poems on the topic), but unless I'd witnessed it with my own eyes that afternoon, I wouldn't have believed that something as rigid and substantial as marble could ripple like a jelly. It was astonishing.

For Kristel
Know that for all 
your immutable beauty
your cool hauteur
your marble heart
the way it cracked
so easily susceptible
to the shivering wave
in a chaos of depravity
has left us shocked
though yes of course
we'll help pull you
out of the rubble
after the fact pretend
nothing happened
you back on that plinth.

Thanks for reading, S ;-)


45 comments:

Ross Madden said...

Bravo Steve. I really enjoyed this. ๐Ÿ‘

Noragh Montgomerie said...

Is that what we are? Caroleans? I thought this was going to be about lemurs etc (forest animals). I obviously had no idea what marmoreal means! Your encounter with an earth tremor was fascinating.

Tif Kellaway said...

I love reading your blogs on a Sunday morning. It's become a bit of a ritual.

Alistair Bradfield said...

A nicely measured response if I may say so.

Nigella D said...

That was a teaser, suitably stately and then suddenly the earth moved!

Jen McDonagh said...

Fascinating about marble and the Royal Collection and an interesting take on the 'heart of stone' in your poem.

Jack Telfer said...

A great read. ๐Ÿ‘

Gemma Gray said...

Great blog Steve. I loved the marble stuff and the illustrations. It's an interesting poem too. I suppose many of us have known a 'Kristel' at some time.

Lizzie Fentiman said...

I'm no great fan of the monarchy although my parents named me after Queen Liz. I think a growing number of Australians would declare for a Republic but is this the time? I don't know. There's a lot of respect for QE2 as a person. The old girl served her peoples well I think. I liked your marble heart poem.

Martin Brewster said...

I like the way you tie things together in your blogs. They are always artfully constructed. That marble forest photograph plays tricks with the eyes! I loved your account of the earth tremor. I've been told that about Zante but it never happened when we were there.

Boz said...

Solid that, la! ๐Ÿ‘

Saskia Parker said...

I enjoyed your blog, the tale of the tremor and your poem. โค๏ธ Also that villa picture is stunning. Is it one of yours?

Mac Southey said...

Nice blog Steve. I actually found myself watching the BBC coverage of the Queen's cortege through London this evening when I should have been going to a Dark Star Orchestra gig. Surprisingly moving actually. If you were going to reference the death of QEII at all I think you did it rather well. It's a great Zakynthos story as well.

Bella Jane Barclay said...

"the shivering wave" - love that.

Luke Taylor said...

Really good.

Nicci Haralambous said...

I have experienced what you describe. It is frightening as well as weird.

Penny Lockhart said...

Beautifully expressed as always. That statue of Aphrodite looks lovely. I enjoyed your account of the earth tremor and the latest poem.๐Ÿ‘

Peter Fountain said...

So were 'marbles' originally made of marble? Or have they always been glass (with marbled effect)? We used to play in the gutters on the way home from school. Do you remember? I feel there might be another poem there for you Steve.

Anonymous said...

Lovely poem - Fabulous introduction fascinating facts about marble, surface of my marble cheese cutter suffered when I prepared some lemons for a tequila drink - next day a dip in it due to the lemon juice juice. Siรขn Foulkes

Carey Jones said...

Read this while waiting in the Queue (that one). Seemed like a good opportunity to catch up on your blogs. Kudos for this one Steve.

Nadia Quigley said...

A great read, beautifully put together. Love the poem.

Beth Randle said...

That was a lovely read. Thank you.

Kevin Sterling said...

That was a good read. ๐Ÿ‘

Rod Downey said...

Loved your marble blog Steve, fab info, lovely illustrations, great earth tremor reminiscence and neat poem For Kristel. Top drawer stuff.

Matt West said...

Nice one pal.

Jenny Grant said...

This was very good, nice to make it chime in with the events of the last week. I'm surprised there isn't a marble bust of the Queen anywhere. I loved your earth tremor account and the little heartbreak poem.

Sahra Carezel said...

๐Ÿ–ค

Writer21 said...

Science is strange! I really liked the description of marble wobbling like a jelly!

Mary Jane Evans said...

Really well done, another immensely readable and informative blog. Fitting that you could reference the passing of the Queen. I liked the phrase marmoreal in memoriam, also the poem.

Steve Rowland said...

Interesting footnote: the Director of the Royal Collection (currently Tim Knox) was prominent in the Queen's funeral cortege today.

Debbie Laing said...

The commentators were speculating yesterday about what a suitable memorial to QEII might be. Maybe something in marble to capture her flawless radiance? I was fascinated by your description of rippling marble and love the poem.

Deke Hughes said...

Suitably stately. Well done. ๐Ÿ‘

Roxy Bellingham said...

The statue of Aphrodite looks beautiful. Your account of the earth tremor made me wonder is a statue might ripple id a shockwave passed through it - almost like coming alive! I loved For Kristel.

Lois Hayburn said...

As others have commented, this was very nicely done Steve; respectful, interesting, with eye-catching images and a lovely poem. Thank you for sharing.

Dani Merakli said...

Aphrodite's hands! Your poem! Things of beauty. ๐Ÿ‘

F O'Jay said...

Well done. RIP QEII. ๐Ÿ–ค

Hazel Williams said...

That's a fine piece of writing. I was intrigued by your description of wobbling marble (sounds crazy, but seeing is believing) and liked the poetry a lot.

Tina Gilliam said...

Beautiful blog, hit the right note in the wake of the Queen's death. That statue of Aphrodite looks stunning. I enjoyed the marble facts including the scary ripple story and I love the poem, so concise, so resonant.

CI66Y said...

Well done with the marble blog and poem. I wonder what happened to 'Kristel' in the end.

Charmian DaSilva said...

A most enjoyable and instructive read. Bless the Queen. Thanks for the share.

Brizette Lempro said...

Very good post and poetry. I have fond memories of Zakynthos.

Harry Lennon said...

That statue of Aphrodite looks stunning. What a beautiful work of art. I was intrigued by your recollection of rippling marble. I wonder why it didn't just crack like road surfaces do. Anyway, I liked your poem as well, succinct. ๐Ÿ‘

Leonie Skirton said...

A lovely blog and poem. It left me wondering about Kristel and is that her in the painting from Zakynthos?

Phil Butler said...

Beautifully written Steve.

Dan Francisco said...

When the earth moves again... Great post Steve. ๐Ÿ‘