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How did ancient builders transport marble blocks to the Acropolis?

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The Parthenon temple in Athens, Greece, is illuminated at night, showing its iconic Doric columns and partially ruined structure atop the Acropolis. — Parthenon Night view of the Parthenon, Athens.

Ancient builders transported the marble blocks used for the Parthenon from a quarry located approximately 10 miles away from Athens. To move these heavy materials, the builders utilized wagons to convey the blocks from the quarry and up the incline leading to the Acropolis.1

Once the blocks reached the site, they were carved and trimmed by hand with high precision to ensure a perfect fit, as the temple was constructed without the use of mortar. While the exact nature of the machinery used to lift the stones remains unknown, experts believe the builders employed a system of pulleys, ropes, and wooden cranes to hoist the blocks into their final positions. Evidence of this process can still be seen today in the form of grooves and holes on the concealed faces of the stones, which were used to secure the ropes during construction.12