DENİZLİ ALABASTER

Quarry Site and Nomenclature

Denizli Alabaster, extracted ancient quarries near the village of Gölemezli in Pamukkale, Denizli, is commercially known as onyx or, more commonly, as water marble due to its extensive use in bath buildings. Scientifically, it is classified as a ‘Calcite Alabaster,’ a chemically-formed sedimentary rock. The distinctive pattern of this stone led Italian stone masons to name it ‘Alabastro Fiorito.’ 

Usage Areas

In antiquity, Denizli Alabaster was widely utilized in the ancient city of Hierapolis and was exported to Mediterranean countries during the Roman Empire. In Istanbul, it adorned the wall coverings of Hagia Sophia and the floor of the Omphalion. During the Ottoman era, it was employed for the exterior walls of the Revan Pavilion in Topkapı Palace.