DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0340
236 CASTEL D' ASSO. [chap. xv.
great chieftain, hero, or high-priest; yet, like all its
neighbours, it was not a mausoleum for a single indi-
vidual but a family-vault, for it contains eight or ten
sarcophagi of nenfro. Unlike the figure-lidded sarco-
phagi and urns, so common in Etruscan cemeteries,
these correspond with the tombs themselves in their
simple, massive, and archaic character. They have no
bas-reliefs or other ornaments, and, in their general form,
are not unlike the stone coffins of early England.1 I did
not observe a single instance of a niche within the tomb
itself, but in the wall of the passage, just outside the
door, there is often one, which was probably for the cippus,
inscribed with the name of the family to whom the
sepulchre belonged.
Prom their exposed position, there is every reason to
conclude that these tombs, like those of Sutri, Civita
Castellana, and Falleri, were rifled at a very early period.
As soon as the sacredness attaching to them as the
resting-place of the dead had worn off, they must have
fallen a prey to plunderers. Then their site being
always indicated by their superincumbent monuments,
whatever of their contents the earlier spoilers might have
spared must inevitably have been carried off or destroyed
by those of subsequent ages. It is absurd to expect that
anything of value should be found in our own day in these
open tombs. But in others excavated of late years in the
plain above, have been found various articles of metal,
specchj with figures and inscriptions, tripods, vases, large
studs representing lions' heads, besides articles of gold
and jewellery, scarabei, &o, with painted vases, some of
great beauty and archaic Greek design.2
1 They are about 7 ft. in length. of Lydia and Phrygia. Steuart, p. 5.
The penthouse form of lid of these sarco- " Orioli, Ann. Inst. 1833, p. 33, and ap.
phagi is said to be that usual in those Inghir". Mon. Etrus.IV. p. 188. TJrlichs,
great chieftain, hero, or high-priest; yet, like all its
neighbours, it was not a mausoleum for a single indi-
vidual but a family-vault, for it contains eight or ten
sarcophagi of nenfro. Unlike the figure-lidded sarco-
phagi and urns, so common in Etruscan cemeteries,
these correspond with the tombs themselves in their
simple, massive, and archaic character. They have no
bas-reliefs or other ornaments, and, in their general form,
are not unlike the stone coffins of early England.1 I did
not observe a single instance of a niche within the tomb
itself, but in the wall of the passage, just outside the
door, there is often one, which was probably for the cippus,
inscribed with the name of the family to whom the
sepulchre belonged.
Prom their exposed position, there is every reason to
conclude that these tombs, like those of Sutri, Civita
Castellana, and Falleri, were rifled at a very early period.
As soon as the sacredness attaching to them as the
resting-place of the dead had worn off, they must have
fallen a prey to plunderers. Then their site being
always indicated by their superincumbent monuments,
whatever of their contents the earlier spoilers might have
spared must inevitably have been carried off or destroyed
by those of subsequent ages. It is absurd to expect that
anything of value should be found in our own day in these
open tombs. But in others excavated of late years in the
plain above, have been found various articles of metal,
specchj with figures and inscriptions, tripods, vases, large
studs representing lions' heads, besides articles of gold
and jewellery, scarabei, &o, with painted vases, some of
great beauty and archaic Greek design.2
1 They are about 7 ft. in length. of Lydia and Phrygia. Steuart, p. 5.
The penthouse form of lid of these sarco- " Orioli, Ann. Inst. 1833, p. 33, and ap.
phagi is said to be that usual in those Inghir". Mon. Etrus.IV. p. 188. TJrlichs,