It varies widely in color, however, from white to black through almost every shade of the spectrum. Impurities such as silica, iron oxides, and graphite give marble its color and characteristic rich veining and clouding. In texture it has a wide range from fine to coarse, and it takes a good polish. Marble is easily carved for statues. Impervious to moisture and fire resistant, it is ideal for monuments and fireproof buildings.
Architects use it for columns, walls, floors, and steps, both interior and exterior.
Interior designers also use it to decorate such items as tabletops and fireplaces. The ancient Greeks used Parian marble from the Island of Paros for such famous statues as the 'Venus de Milo'. They built the Parthenon in Athens of Pentelic marble from Mount Pentelicus. Pure white marble from Carrara, Italy, was used by the Romans and such Renaissance sculptors as Michelangelo and Antonio Canova. It is still favored by modern sculptors.