Lime (i.e. calcined limestone) has proved to be one of the most adaptable products used in antiquity. It effectively produces a synthetic stone that can be poured, spread or moulded into any form. The addition of an aggregate provides strength and a certain resistance to shrinkage. Aggregate, the material may also impart hydraulic or aesthetic properties and may thus be used to classify the variety of materials.
Examination on the limes used in the construction of the city of Corinth during its long history have revealed a wide use of the material from aesthetic to structural uses, and thoroughly disproves the adage that 'concrete was invented by the Romans'. Recently studies have focussed on the construction of a small 'Hellenistic' fountain house at the SE corner of the Asklepieion, which lies at the walled city's limits. The dating of this structure has been a subject of debate. Petrographic analyses of the hydraulic mortars used in the construction of the fountain house indicate that it was certainly 'repaired' during the Roman occupation, although it was probably built before Mummius' invasion in 146 B.C. However the fountain house is younger than the main construction phase of the temple precinct, as it clearly cross cuts pre-existing masonry and plumbing.