DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0355
chap, xvi.] THE PEDIMENTS AND THEIR SCULPTURES. 251
terminate on each side in a volute,7 within which is a grim,
grinning face with prominent teeth, a Gorgon's head, a
common sepulchral decoration among the Etruscans, who
viewed it as the symbol of Hades, and of its king Mantus.
Over two of the three remaining volutes is something,
which from below seems a shapeless mass of rock, but
on closer examination proves to be a lioness—specimens
of the acroteria, with which the ancients were wont to
decorate their temples.8 Other peculiarities may be
observed in the guttce, the triglyphs, the dentilled cornice
above them, and the ornamented fascia of the pediment—
all, so many Etruscan corruptions of the pure Greek style.9
The tomb whose facade is entire, is more ancient than
its fellow, as is proved by the bas-relief in the portico of
the latter encroaching considerably on the wall of the
former. Yet with some trifling exceptions they exactly
correspond.1 Indeed the sculptures in the two pediments
are by some considered as relating to the same subject;
what that may be, however, from the dilapidated state
of the figures, it is not easy to decide. One has conjectured
it to represent the contest for the body of Patroclus;2
"' The pediments to these tombs prove
them to be imitations of temples, or of
very distinguished houses—if we may
judge from the analogy of the Romans,
among whom pediments were such marks
of dignity, that Cicero says (de Orat.
III. 46) if you could build in heaven,
where you have no showers to fear, yet
you would never seem to have attained
dignity without a pediment. Julius
Caasar, as a great mark of distinction,
was allowed a pediment to his house.
Flor. IV. 2. cf. Cie. Phil. II. 43.
8 Lions were symbolic guardians of
sepulchres ; and as such are often found
at the entrances of tombs, or painted
within them over the doorway—and are
sometimes found in a similar position as
acroteria to porticos, as in a temple-like
sarcophagus of Chiusi, which bears a
relief of a death-bed scene. Micali.
Mon. Ined. tav. XXII. See chap. II.
of this work, page 49.
9 The guttce are inverted, having the
points downwards, and they are only
three in number. The triglyphs are with-
out the half-channels on their outer
edges, as prescribed by Vitruvius (IV.
3, 5), and are therefore more properly
diglyphs.
1 The pediment is rather higher in
the older tomb. This has no gwttm like
the other. The portico is loftier in the
imperfect monument.
2 Gerhard, Bull, dell' Inst. 1831,p. 84.
terminate on each side in a volute,7 within which is a grim,
grinning face with prominent teeth, a Gorgon's head, a
common sepulchral decoration among the Etruscans, who
viewed it as the symbol of Hades, and of its king Mantus.
Over two of the three remaining volutes is something,
which from below seems a shapeless mass of rock, but
on closer examination proves to be a lioness—specimens
of the acroteria, with which the ancients were wont to
decorate their temples.8 Other peculiarities may be
observed in the guttce, the triglyphs, the dentilled cornice
above them, and the ornamented fascia of the pediment—
all, so many Etruscan corruptions of the pure Greek style.9
The tomb whose facade is entire, is more ancient than
its fellow, as is proved by the bas-relief in the portico of
the latter encroaching considerably on the wall of the
former. Yet with some trifling exceptions they exactly
correspond.1 Indeed the sculptures in the two pediments
are by some considered as relating to the same subject;
what that may be, however, from the dilapidated state
of the figures, it is not easy to decide. One has conjectured
it to represent the contest for the body of Patroclus;2
"' The pediments to these tombs prove
them to be imitations of temples, or of
very distinguished houses—if we may
judge from the analogy of the Romans,
among whom pediments were such marks
of dignity, that Cicero says (de Orat.
III. 46) if you could build in heaven,
where you have no showers to fear, yet
you would never seem to have attained
dignity without a pediment. Julius
Caasar, as a great mark of distinction,
was allowed a pediment to his house.
Flor. IV. 2. cf. Cie. Phil. II. 43.
8 Lions were symbolic guardians of
sepulchres ; and as such are often found
at the entrances of tombs, or painted
within them over the doorway—and are
sometimes found in a similar position as
acroteria to porticos, as in a temple-like
sarcophagus of Chiusi, which bears a
relief of a death-bed scene. Micali.
Mon. Ined. tav. XXII. See chap. II.
of this work, page 49.
9 The guttce are inverted, having the
points downwards, and they are only
three in number. The triglyphs are with-
out the half-channels on their outer
edges, as prescribed by Vitruvius (IV.
3, 5), and are therefore more properly
diglyphs.
1 The pediment is rather higher in
the older tomb. This has no gwttm like
the other. The portico is loftier in the
imperfect monument.
2 Gerhard, Bull, dell' Inst. 1831,p. 84.