How in the world was it built?

In the very beginning, drainage pipes were laid, and a layer of gravel was packed over the leveled site to facilitate water runoff. The workers then dug many deep shafts. These were lined with bricks and cement, then filled with rubble and more cement. They were then connected to the other shafts with pipes. On top of the filled shafts, there were arched vaults that supported the main structure. Over the vaults, a large "sandstone-faced platform was built," (Diana Preston, pg. 179). It was about 970 feet long, and 364 feet wide. The masons built a huge square plinth, a strong pedestal for a building, on top of this sandstone platform. The plinth's sides measured at about 300 feet long and 19 feet tall. A system of ropes and pulleys were then used to hoist the stones up to where they belonged. The masons trimmed the stones very carefully after they were placed on the scaffolding. To do this, they took wedges and hammered them into the stone, and it cut off a small part. Once measured down to the very last millimeter, the blocks were placed where they belonged using metal crowbars. After being placed where they were needed, some masons inscribed the marble blocks with their initials or special shapes.