It is brilliant white, flawless and so translucent it appears to glow. It was being used for buildings and sculptures nearly 3,000 years ago and made Paros rich. Some of the world’s most famous classical sculptures are made of what is known as Parian marble, including the Venus de Milo and the Nike of Samothrace.  Napoleon’s tomb in Paris is made of it too. The abandoned quarries can still be visited.