DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0591
chap, xxvi.] DISCOVERY OF THE NECROPOLIS. 483
to the villagers who accompanied him the nature of the
objects he was seeking. They were no less astonished to
find a stranger display such interest in what to their simple
mind was meaningless, or was regarded as a mere " scherzo"
—a freak of Nature imitating Art, or a fanciful work
carved in an idle or wanton mood by the " rude forefathers
of the hamlet." "Scherzi, scherzi!—is that the roba you
want ? there are plenty of such whims! " cried they; and
they led him on from one rock-hewn monument to another,
which excited his surprise and admiration more and more
by their multitude, variety, and novel character, and
afforded him convincing evidence of the Etruscan origin of
Sovana. He returned day after day to the spot, and in
defiance of a midsummer sun, and its noxious influences,
persevered till he had made finished drawings of the most
remarkable monuments, and taken their dimensions with
the fullest detail. He forthwith sent a description of this
necropolis to the Archaeological Institute of Rome, together
with drawings, plans, and sections of the principal tombs
for publication. In truth, he has left little to be done by
future visitors to Sovana, so detailed and accurate are his
notices and drawings, and such the zeal with which he
prosecuted his researches for the benefit of antiquarian
science.
The discovery is of the highest importance, for these
sepulchres, while in general character resembling those of
Norchia, Castel dAsso, and Bieda, have novel and striking
features peculiar to the site. Mr. Ainsley justly observes,
that after " having visited nearly all the antiquities of this
kind known to exist in Etruria, I can truly say that I
have seen no place which contains so great a variety of
sculptured tombs as Sovana." 2
2 Bull. Inst. 1843, p. 159. Gentleman's Mag., Oct. 1843, p. 419.
II 2
to the villagers who accompanied him the nature of the
objects he was seeking. They were no less astonished to
find a stranger display such interest in what to their simple
mind was meaningless, or was regarded as a mere " scherzo"
—a freak of Nature imitating Art, or a fanciful work
carved in an idle or wanton mood by the " rude forefathers
of the hamlet." "Scherzi, scherzi!—is that the roba you
want ? there are plenty of such whims! " cried they; and
they led him on from one rock-hewn monument to another,
which excited his surprise and admiration more and more
by their multitude, variety, and novel character, and
afforded him convincing evidence of the Etruscan origin of
Sovana. He returned day after day to the spot, and in
defiance of a midsummer sun, and its noxious influences,
persevered till he had made finished drawings of the most
remarkable monuments, and taken their dimensions with
the fullest detail. He forthwith sent a description of this
necropolis to the Archaeological Institute of Rome, together
with drawings, plans, and sections of the principal tombs
for publication. In truth, he has left little to be done by
future visitors to Sovana, so detailed and accurate are his
notices and drawings, and such the zeal with which he
prosecuted his researches for the benefit of antiquarian
science.
The discovery is of the highest importance, for these
sepulchres, while in general character resembling those of
Norchia, Castel dAsso, and Bieda, have novel and striking
features peculiar to the site. Mr. Ainsley justly observes,
that after " having visited nearly all the antiquities of this
kind known to exist in Etruria, I can truly say that I
have seen no place which contains so great a variety of
sculptured tombs as Sovana." 2
2 Bull. Inst. 1843, p. 159. Gentleman's Mag., Oct. 1843, p. 419.
II 2