The ancient Greeks worked subtle curves into the columns, architraves ... workers cut 100,000 tons of marble from Pentelicon. The quarry remains a rich source of marble even today.

A meal at this Greek restaurant is uneven, but it’s a solid option for escaping the overrun tourist spots in Union Square.

The victory of the Roman emperor Trajan over the Dacians in back-to-back wars is carved in numerous scenes that spiral around a 126-foot marble pillar in Rome known as Trajan’s Column.