Marble Use in the Early Byzantine Southern Levant: Spatial and Social Contexts

Abstract This study explores the varied usage of imported marble during the early Byzantine period in the Southern Levant. While marble symbolised luxury and high status in the Roman period, its use patterns shifted during early Byzantine times. By employing a diverse array of written sources and archaeological data, this study identified multiple social groups involved in the procurement and use of marble, extending beyond emperors and bishops to clerics and laypeople from various walks of life. This analysis highlights numerous examples of using marble in private and public spaces, with concomitant dominance in religious buildings. Particular emphasis is placed on rural areas where the increased presence of marble indicates a partial blurring of the distinctions between villages and cities. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of how marble functions as a cultural and social marker in urban and rural contexts, with implications for studying the early Byzantine economy and material culture.