DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0308
206 FERENTO. [chap. xm.
rest of the structure, I am of opinion that this fa£ade is
Etruscan. The construction of its gates might be cited as
an objection. There are seven of these, the largest in the
centre,—all with flat architraves composed of cuneiform
blocks holding together on the principle of the arch, though
without cement; as is proved in one gateway, where, the
masonry being dislocated, the keystone has slipt down
several inches, yet is still supported by the contiguous
blocks.9 This mode of construction, like the arch itself,
has generally been supposed a Roman invention; but
there is now little doubt that the arch in Italy had an
Etruscan origin, and that the Romans derived it from
Etruria; therefore, seeing the perfection to which the
arched vault had been brought at a very early age in the
Cloaca Maxima, there is nothing in the peculiar style,
or difficult construction of this flat arch which mflitates
against its being of Etruscan formation; for the principle
of cuneiform sustentation once discovered, the progress
from one application of it to another must have been
short and easy.-
This massive masonry rises to the height of ten courses.
On it rests a mass of Roman brickwork, of Imperial
times, with several arched openings, intended to admit
light into the passage within. This passage, or post-
scenium, which runs the whole length of the fac^ade, is
about four feet wide, and its inner wall, or the seem, is
also of red Roman brick. One vast mass of this wall has
been loosened from its foundation, probably by the same
convulsion of nature which dislocated the gateway, and
reclines against the outer wall, adding much to the
9 This has since fallen, and the archi- in the woodcut, is more than 12 ft. in
traye is destroyed. Nov. 1846. Its place height, and is 10 ft. 2 in. wide; the
is seen to the left in the woodcut at next on either hand, 8 ft. 1 in.; the
page 201. next tw0j 7 ft. 6 in.; and the outer
The central gate, which is represented gates, 7 ft. 3 in. in width.
rest of the structure, I am of opinion that this fa£ade is
Etruscan. The construction of its gates might be cited as
an objection. There are seven of these, the largest in the
centre,—all with flat architraves composed of cuneiform
blocks holding together on the principle of the arch, though
without cement; as is proved in one gateway, where, the
masonry being dislocated, the keystone has slipt down
several inches, yet is still supported by the contiguous
blocks.9 This mode of construction, like the arch itself,
has generally been supposed a Roman invention; but
there is now little doubt that the arch in Italy had an
Etruscan origin, and that the Romans derived it from
Etruria; therefore, seeing the perfection to which the
arched vault had been brought at a very early age in the
Cloaca Maxima, there is nothing in the peculiar style,
or difficult construction of this flat arch which mflitates
against its being of Etruscan formation; for the principle
of cuneiform sustentation once discovered, the progress
from one application of it to another must have been
short and easy.-
This massive masonry rises to the height of ten courses.
On it rests a mass of Roman brickwork, of Imperial
times, with several arched openings, intended to admit
light into the passage within. This passage, or post-
scenium, which runs the whole length of the fac^ade, is
about four feet wide, and its inner wall, or the seem, is
also of red Roman brick. One vast mass of this wall has
been loosened from its foundation, probably by the same
convulsion of nature which dislocated the gateway, and
reclines against the outer wall, adding much to the
9 This has since fallen, and the archi- in the woodcut, is more than 12 ft. in
traye is destroyed. Nov. 1846. Its place height, and is 10 ft. 2 in. wide; the
is seen to the left in the woodcut at next on either hand, 8 ft. 1 in.; the
page 201. next tw0j 7 ft. 6 in.; and the outer
The central gate, which is represented gates, 7 ft. 3 in. in width.