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Quake-Proof Cement Mixed '1,300 Years Ago'
IOL ^ | 11-13-2002

Posted on 11/14/2002 3:07:10 PM PST by blam

Quake-proof cement mixed '1 300 years ago'

November 13 2002 at 04:36PM

London - The Sixth Century builders of Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine cathedral still standing in Istanbul, discovered cement with earthquake-resistant properties 1 300 years before anyone else, a research team revealed on Wednesday.

Hagia Sophia, built as a church and subsequently turned into a mosque, still stands only because its creators discovered the cement.

Many of the surrounding buildings have long since succumbed to the ravages of time, including earthquakes, according to a report in the New Scientist.

The structure has withstood quakes of up to 7,5 on the Richter scale, according to the team, headed by Antonia Moropoulou from Athens' National Technical University.

'They were very advanced scientists' The team found that the cement contained a calcium silicate matrix similar to that found in Portland cement, although the architects, Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus, came up with their mix in 532.

Team member Ahmet Cakmak of Princeton University said volcanic ash or other silica was deliberately added to the mixture, producing a material that could absorb seismic activity.

"The Byzantians knew exactly what they were doing. They were very advanced scientists," he said.

The group hopes the mortar can be recreated to allow faithful restoration. - Sapa-DPA


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 1300; ago; cement; constantinople; godsgravesglyphs; hagiasophia; quakeproof; turkey; years

1 posted on 11/14/2002 3:07:10 PM PST by blam
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To: blam
I am currently reading about the Hellenic Roman/Greek era. There were some very smart people back then as well as a very advanced civilization. Many roads from the Roman Empire can still be found throughout Europe today.
2 posted on 11/14/2002 3:08:49 PM PST by SamAdams76
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To: blam
Im mortar-fied ... Damn , them hellenes and grecos were mighty industrious...
3 posted on 11/14/2002 3:14:49 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: SamAdams76
How'd they build all that stuff :-? What a sight that must have been in its day.


4 posted on 11/14/2002 3:20:34 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: blam
Bump
5 posted on 11/14/2002 3:21:57 PM PST by Fiddlstix
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To: blam


Hagia Sophia

Istanbul, Turkey
6 posted on 11/14/2002 3:29:22 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge
The subject of the article, thanks.
7 posted on 11/14/2002 3:44:56 PM PST by blam
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To: NormsRevenge
No NO this is an obvious fake. Every knows that is Jabba the Hut's house from Star Wars.
8 posted on 11/14/2002 3:48:07 PM PST by Clean_Sweep
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To: SamAdams76
Actually, it was the Romans who first used concrete (the Colliseum is built of it) and who introduced volcanic ash into the mix to make it tougher.

The Pantheon, which they built, was for many many years the largest unsupported domed building in the world. SPQR!

Regards,

9 posted on 11/14/2002 3:53:01 PM PST by Jimmy Valentine
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To: Jimmy Valentine
The Pantheon:

The dome, by the way, is made of concrete slabs. The architecture of the Pantheon was extensively studied by Andrea Palladio - he even "reverse engineered" the blueprints and building plans. His book, Quattro Libri dell'Architectura was instrumental in reintroducing Classical architecture to Europe.

10 posted on 11/14/2002 6:09:36 PM PST by John Locke
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 GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach
Note: this topic is from 11/14/2002. Thanks blam.

Blast from the Past.

Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.


11 posted on 08/07/2011 5:08:50 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Yes, as a matter of fact, it is that time again -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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