Travertine

Along with tufa, one of the main types of stone used in ancient Roman buildings. Travertine "marble", imported from Tivoli, was used for all of the architectural elements most susceptible to wear. Columns, corner stones, door frames, windowsills, and ornamental carvings generally used travertine.

Trav"er*tine (?), n. [F. travertin, It. travertino, tiburtino, L. lapis Tiburtinus, fr. Tibur an ancient town of Latium, now Tivoli.] Min.

A white concretionary form of calcium carbonate, usually hard and semicrystalline. It is deposited from the water of springs or streams holding lime in solution. Extensive deposits exist at Tivoli, near Rome.

© Webster 1913.