DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0595
chap, xxvi.] LA FONTANA—ETRUSCAN MERMAID. 487
resembles the tombs of Norchia and Castel d' Asso, but
instead of Etruscan cornices has a Doric-like frieze, sur-
mounted by a pediment with singular reliefs ; and in
place of the door-moulding on the facade, it has an arched
recess, with an inscription carved on the inner wall,9 and
a couple of steps below it, which give it some resemblance
to a modern way-side shrine. The general features of the
monument, even without the open tomb beneath,1 would
prove it to be sepulchral.
The projecting fascia bears much resemblance to a Doric
frieze,2 but the pediment is very un-Hellenic in character.
In the centre is an Etruscan mermaid, or marine deity—
Prima hominis facies, et pulchro pectore virgo
Pube terms ; postrema immani corpore pistrix
Delphinum caudas utero commissa—
Her face has been utterly destroyed ; her body is naked,
but over her head float her robes inflated by the breeze,
and she is striving to confine them with her hands.3
The huge coils of her fishes' tails roll away on each side
almost to the very extremity of the pediment. On either
hand, flying from her with wings outspread, is a male
genius; the one on her left bears a shield on his arm, and
has some traces of a helmet on his head.
9 The inscription is in letters ten inches 2 It is divided into metopes, and what
high. Though much defaced, it appears resemble triglyphs in outline, but not
to be a proper name, and in Roman being channelled, are not entitled to the
letters would be name ; there are no guttm.
nuli . . ia. velu 3 Mr. Ainsley took her robes to be
velcs. wings, and in truth the resemblance is
» The sepulchral chamber to which not sUSht' aai the t^0® of simih*
this monument is the tomb-stone, is fiSures on Etruscan urns, leads you to
entered by a passage opening in the exPect ^S3! but here> &* folas oi the
hill-side, at an unusual depth below the draPery are distinctly seen covering the
facade. It is spacious, but empty, and left arm- She holds n0 instrument in
in no way remarkable. her hand' M usual ™ s"ch figures.
resembles the tombs of Norchia and Castel d' Asso, but
instead of Etruscan cornices has a Doric-like frieze, sur-
mounted by a pediment with singular reliefs ; and in
place of the door-moulding on the facade, it has an arched
recess, with an inscription carved on the inner wall,9 and
a couple of steps below it, which give it some resemblance
to a modern way-side shrine. The general features of the
monument, even without the open tomb beneath,1 would
prove it to be sepulchral.
The projecting fascia bears much resemblance to a Doric
frieze,2 but the pediment is very un-Hellenic in character.
In the centre is an Etruscan mermaid, or marine deity—
Prima hominis facies, et pulchro pectore virgo
Pube terms ; postrema immani corpore pistrix
Delphinum caudas utero commissa—
Her face has been utterly destroyed ; her body is naked,
but over her head float her robes inflated by the breeze,
and she is striving to confine them with her hands.3
The huge coils of her fishes' tails roll away on each side
almost to the very extremity of the pediment. On either
hand, flying from her with wings outspread, is a male
genius; the one on her left bears a shield on his arm, and
has some traces of a helmet on his head.
9 The inscription is in letters ten inches 2 It is divided into metopes, and what
high. Though much defaced, it appears resemble triglyphs in outline, but not
to be a proper name, and in Roman being channelled, are not entitled to the
letters would be name ; there are no guttm.
nuli . . ia. velu 3 Mr. Ainsley took her robes to be
velcs. wings, and in truth the resemblance is
» The sepulchral chamber to which not sUSht' aai the t^0® of simih*
this monument is the tomb-stone, is fiSures on Etruscan urns, leads you to
entered by a passage opening in the exPect ^S3! but here> &* folas oi the
hill-side, at an unusual depth below the draPery are distinctly seen covering the
facade. It is spacious, but empty, and left arm- She holds n0 instrument in
in no way remarkable. her hand' M usual ™ s"ch figures.