Julius indeed began to heap favours upon Michelangelo; for when he had begun to work, the Pope used frequently to betake himself to his house, conversing there with him about the tomb, and about other works which he proposed to carry out in concert with one of his brothers.

In order to arrive more conveniently at Michelangelo's lodgings, he had a drawbridge thrown across from the corridor, by which he might gain privy access." The date of Michelangelo's return to Rome is fixed approximately by a contract signed at Carrara between him and two shipowners of Lavagna.
This deed is dated November 12, 1505.

It shows that thirty-four cartloads of marble were then ready for shipment, together with two figures weighing fifteen cartloads more.

We have a right to assume that Michelangelo left Carrara soon after completing this transaction.
Allowing, then, for the journey and the halt at Florence, he probably reached Rome in the last week of that month.
III The first act in the tragedy of the sepulchre had now begun, and Michelangelo was embarked upon one of the mightiest undertakings which a sovereign of the stamp of Julius ever intrusted to a sculptor of his titanic energy.

In order to form a conception of the magnitude of the enterprise, I am forced to enter into a discussion regarding the real nature of the monument.