The enamel layer could be of various colors, depending on the minerals used. Turquoise was the most common color. Given the influence of Augustus' love of marble in his architectural exploits, one would expect this more prized material to be used to create his head. Aristocrats loved to identify marbles from different countries and this interest became a concern of the elite. They wanted to know the origins of each type of marble. Marble was so widespread in Roman possessions that Augustus boasted of having transformed Rome "from a city of brick into a city of marble". Egyptians often used earthenware glazed objects in a religious context such as funerals to honor the deceased by recognizing the color blue as a protective element as they journeyed into the afterlife. Blue was also considered a color that carried meanings of longevity and prosperity, which is why it was seen on many sacred objects such as the head of