4The Ancient Marble Quarries of Paros
Paros was once famous throughout the ancient world for its exceptional marble. The legendary Marathi Marble Quarries supplied one of the most prized materials in classical sculpture: Parian marble.
This luminous white stone was valued for its fine texture and slight translucence, making it ideal for carving statues. Some of the most celebrated masterpieces of ancient Greek art were created from Parian marble, including the famous Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
The quarries themselves are located near the village of Marathi, where visitors can explore tunnels carved deep into the hillside. Ancient workers extracted marble blocks using primitive tools, often working underground in narrow passages illuminated only by oil lamps.
Walking through the quarry tunnels today provides a fascinating glimpse into the island’s ancient industry and the labor that supported the flourishing art of classical Greece.
