Chap. III.

GRECIAN.

77

where a simple cornice with lion’s heads protects the massive stones which form the squareportal. (Seeyfy. 87.)

In a tomb at rdinessus in later times we find the bold semicircular arch containingwithin tlie square portal formed of regular voussoirs, and set out with a thorough knowledgeof its construction. This is thought to he of Roman work. (See Jiff. 88.)

Hie walls of Etruscan cities exhibit a more perfect construction ; the Tyrrhenians in the

Fig. (7. sioyma. Fig. £8. telmessis.

walls of Volterra, Cortona, Populunia, Roselle, Fiesole , Cosa, Luna, throughout Latium,and even at Pompeii, followed the manner adopted by the Pelasgi or Cyclops in Greece ,though in the later example there is a nearer approach to regular masonry.

The blocks at Volterra are laid in nearly horizontal courses ; and those at Cosa resemblethe construction at Myeena?. At Roselle, on the Ombrone, are vast ruins scattered over ahill, and the walls are nearly a mile and three quarters in circumference, constructed of acoarse limestone, or large masses of travertine, the outer face of which is perfectly levelthroughout. Some of these blocks are 15 feet in length, and their thickness is so great, thatonly two of these stones side by side are required for the entire thickness of the wall.

Cosa, near Orbitello , has its walls nearly entire, and those at Luna, an ancient maritimeestablishment of the Etruscans , were built in this manner, of pure marble, taken from theneighbouring quarries of Carrara. Manyof these walls have their horizontal courseslaid nearly parallel, whilst the joints whichshould be perpendicular are inclined; sothat the stones are cut more in the form ofa trapezium or rhomboid, their ends, in par-ticular situations where strength is required,are dovetailed one within the other

At Circei remains a rude entrance, whichhas a Cyclopean character, built up withstones without cement; and it would seemthat among the Etruscans the progress ofimprovement kept pace with the Greeks : wehave entrances to their towns, exhibiting thesame style of construction, and in some in-stances vastly superior. That at Volterra has a semicircular arch, adorned with heads.

(/7p. 89.) Another at Tusculum has itssquare-headed opening now inclosed withina regular pointed arch, which seems to havebeen constructed at the same time as thewalls themselves, known to be of very greatantiquity. Among the Etruscan remainsthis peculiar form of the arch is frequentlyfound, but in the present example all thestones radiate to their respective centres, andleave no doubt as to the principle beingthoroughly known ; indeed, it is nothing

Fig. 89.