Marble: As a mineral, consists of carbonate of lime, its texture varying from
the highly crystalline to the compact. In
(Esther 1:6) there are four
Hebrew words which are rendered marble:,1. Shesh, "pillars of marble." But this word probably designates
dark-blue limestone rather than marble.
2. Dar, some regard as Parian marble. It is here rendered "white
marble." But nothing is certainly known of it.
3. Bahat, "red marble," probably the verd-antique or half-porphyry
of Egypt.
4. Sohareth, "black marble," probably some spotted variety of
marble. "The marble pillars and tesserae of various colours of
the palace at Susa came doubtless from Persia itself, where
marble of various colours is found, especially in the province
of Hamadan Susiana." The marble of Solomon's architectural works
may have been limestone from near Jerusalem, or from Lebanon, or
possibly white marble from Arabia. Herod employed Parian marble
in the temple, and marble columns still exist in great abundance
at Jerusalem.
