"The Parthenon: Secrets of the ancient temple"

Adapted from: Smithsonian, February, 2008.

When we talk about something called "Modern Technology," folks, sometimes it's good to reflect that the Greek people living around twenty - five hundred years ago were no slouches, either, when it came to technical expertise.

The same thing could most likely be applied to the New World Maya and Inca, too, as well as perhaps even to the Aztecs.

Thus said, let's take up the theme of craftsmen and craft tools, around 500 B.C. in ancient Greece, o.k.? O.K.!!

As this article by Evan Hadingham he tells us that the Greeks knew how to make superb hand tools for their detailed construction projects.

Page 40:

"Another, counterintuitive possibility is that ancient hand tools were superior to their modern counterparts.

"After analyzing marks left on the marble surfaces, [a modern day Greek architect and researcher Manolis] Korres is convinced that centuries of metallurgical experimentation enabled the ancient Athenians to create chisels and axes that were sharper and more durable than those available today.

"Korres concludes that the ancient masons, with their superior tools, could carve marble at more than double the rate of speed of today's craftsmen.

"And the Parthenon's original laborers had the benefit of experience, drawing on a century and a half of temple - building know - how."

A good read!