<Tr> <Td> <P> IN THIS TEMPLE AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS ENSHRINED FOREVER </P> </Td> </Tr> <P> IN THIS TEMPLE AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS ENSHRINED FOREVER </P> <Tr> <Td> Epitaph by Royal Cortissoz </Td> </Tr> <P> Lying between the north and south chambers is the central hall containing the solitary figure of Lincoln sitting in contemplation . The statue was carved by the Piccirilli Brothers under the supervision of the sculptor, Daniel Chester French, and took four years to complete . The statue, originally intended to be only 10 feet (3.0 m) tall, was, on further consideration, enlarged so that it finally stood 19 feet (5.8 m) tall from head to foot, the scale being such that if Lincoln were standing, he would be 28 feet (8.5 m) tall . The widest span of the statue corresponds to its height . Of Georgia white marble, it weighs 175 short tons (159 t) and was shipped in twenty - eight pieces . </P>

Why are there 12 columns on the lincoln memorial