DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0145
chap, xxxviii.] FONTE SOTTERRA. 129
occurred in the autumn of that unusually hot year,
1825, and has been thought worthy of record on a tablet
at the entrance.1
Inghirami regards this Fonte as an Etruscan work ; but
I could perceive nothing which marks such an origin.2
Only ten or twelve paces from this Fonte, a remarkable
cistern or reservoir was discovered in 1832. Its walls,
except on one side where a flight of steps led down into it,3
were built up with masonry, in large rectangular, rusticated
blocks.4 It was roofed in by the convergence of several
horizontal layers of thin stones, and the imposition of
larger slabs in the centre,5 on the same principle as the
celebrated Regulini-Galassi tomb at Cervetri. It was
remarkable, that though undoubtedly a reservoir or
fountain—for it was discovered by tracing an ancient
water-channel which led from it—there were no traces of
cement in the masonry. This fact, and the very ancient
style of its vaulting, indicate an Etruscan origin; which is
confirmed by the discovery of sundry amphorae of that
character, and fragments of water-pots buried in the mud
which covered the bottom. This reservoir was, unfor-
tunately, reclosed the year after it was opened.6 It seems
1 * Memorial.—Of this vast cistern, 3 The steps had subsequently been
hollowed in the solid rock, and sloping rendered useless by a huge slab being
down from the entrance a distance of laid across the opening to them.
75 braccia (144 feet English), Luigi di 4 Inghirami mentions having seen
Giuliano Ruggieri was the first, to his other remains of similar rusticated work
astonishment, to discover the bottom among the ruins of Fiesole. Ann. Instit.
dry, the 16th October, 1825 ; and in 1835, p. 9.
memorial thereof he has set up this 5 A similar vaulting was found in an
stone. Pay respect to the water." Etruscan crypt at CasteUina del Chianti.
2 The walls at the entrance of the Ann. Inst. loc. cit.
passage are of small stones uncemented, 6 Full particulars of this reservoir
but of later date ; some large blocks have been given by Cav. Inghirami and
mixed with them may be of Etruscan Professor Pasqui, in the Annals of the
hewing. The hollowing in the living Institute, 1835, pp.8—18; whence the
rock is certainly an Etruscan, rather above account is taken,
than a Roman feature.
VOL, II. K
occurred in the autumn of that unusually hot year,
1825, and has been thought worthy of record on a tablet
at the entrance.1
Inghirami regards this Fonte as an Etruscan work ; but
I could perceive nothing which marks such an origin.2
Only ten or twelve paces from this Fonte, a remarkable
cistern or reservoir was discovered in 1832. Its walls,
except on one side where a flight of steps led down into it,3
were built up with masonry, in large rectangular, rusticated
blocks.4 It was roofed in by the convergence of several
horizontal layers of thin stones, and the imposition of
larger slabs in the centre,5 on the same principle as the
celebrated Regulini-Galassi tomb at Cervetri. It was
remarkable, that though undoubtedly a reservoir or
fountain—for it was discovered by tracing an ancient
water-channel which led from it—there were no traces of
cement in the masonry. This fact, and the very ancient
style of its vaulting, indicate an Etruscan origin; which is
confirmed by the discovery of sundry amphorae of that
character, and fragments of water-pots buried in the mud
which covered the bottom. This reservoir was, unfor-
tunately, reclosed the year after it was opened.6 It seems
1 * Memorial.—Of this vast cistern, 3 The steps had subsequently been
hollowed in the solid rock, and sloping rendered useless by a huge slab being
down from the entrance a distance of laid across the opening to them.
75 braccia (144 feet English), Luigi di 4 Inghirami mentions having seen
Giuliano Ruggieri was the first, to his other remains of similar rusticated work
astonishment, to discover the bottom among the ruins of Fiesole. Ann. Instit.
dry, the 16th October, 1825 ; and in 1835, p. 9.
memorial thereof he has set up this 5 A similar vaulting was found in an
stone. Pay respect to the water." Etruscan crypt at CasteUina del Chianti.
2 The walls at the entrance of the Ann. Inst. loc. cit.
passage are of small stones uncemented, 6 Full particulars of this reservoir
but of later date ; some large blocks have been given by Cav. Inghirami and
mixed with them may be of Etruscan Professor Pasqui, in the Annals of the
hewing. The hollowing in the living Institute, 1835, pp.8—18; whence the
rock is certainly an Etruscan, rather above account is taken,
than a Roman feature.
VOL, II. K