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A single Istrian stone weighing 230 tons covers the roof of this ancient mausoleum.
To the casual observer, the Mausoleum of Theoderic is far from being one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in Italy, or even near Ravenna. But when you learn that the roof is made of one single stone slab weighing 230 tons and that no one is quite sure how the builders got it up there, things get far more interesting. At the time of his death in 526 AD, Theoderic the Great had racked up an impressive number of titles: King of the Ostrogoths, ruler of Italy, regent of the Visigoths, patricius of the Roman Empire. With such a vast array of honors to his name, it was no surprise that he wanted to build himself a tomb that would be worthy of his accomplishments in life.
