DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0176
chap, xl.] TOMB OF THE C^CINjE. 159
and leading down to the rock-hewn door of the tomb,
which was closed with a large slab. The sepulchre was
circular, about forty feet in diameter,5 supported by a
thick column in the midst, and surrounded by a triple tier
of benches, all hewn from the rock. Forty urns of
alabaster, adorned with painting and gilding, were found
lying, not on the benches where they had originally been
arranged, but in a confused heap on the floor, as though
they had been cast there by former plunderers, or " thrown
down by an earthquake," as Gori suggests—more pro-
bably the former. Just within the door stood a beautiful
Roman cippus, with a sepulchral inscription in Latin, to
"A. Csecina."6 Most of the urns also bore inscriptions,
some in Etruscan, a few in Latin, but all of the same
family. They have fortunately been preserved in the
Museum of the city, just then commenced, but the tomb
where they had lain for at least two thousand years, has
been covered in, and its very site is now forgotten.7
A second tomb of this family was discovered in 1785,
containing about forty urns ; none of them with Latin
inscriptions.8
A third tomb of the Caecina family was discovered in
1810, outside the Gate of Diana, containing six chambers,
and numerous urns with Etruscan inscriptions.9 Thus it
5 Maffei, Osserv. Lett. V. p. 318 ; ' It was discovered by Dr. Pagnini,
Inghirami, Mon. Etrus. IV. p. 85. whose description of it will be found in
Gori's illustration mates it only 30 feet. Inghirami's Mon. Etrus. IV. p. 107. The
6 Gori (III. p. 94, tab. XI.) and door was 12 braccia (23 feet) below the
Inghirami (Mon. Etrus. VI. p. 23. tav. surface; the first chamber was of irre-
D 3.) call it an altar, which it resembles gular form, having a column in the
in form ; but the inscription marks it as midst, with a base and capital of the
a cippus. It is now in the Museum of Tuscan order, two rows of benches
V olterra. around, on which the urns were found
Illustrations of this tomb are given upset and in great confusion; ten of
by Gori, III. tab. X, and Inghirami, them were well preserved, and with
IV. tav. XIV. XV. Etruscan inscriptions—none with Latin.
Inghirami, Mon. Etrus. I. p. 11. The other five chambers were of inferior
and leading down to the rock-hewn door of the tomb,
which was closed with a large slab. The sepulchre was
circular, about forty feet in diameter,5 supported by a
thick column in the midst, and surrounded by a triple tier
of benches, all hewn from the rock. Forty urns of
alabaster, adorned with painting and gilding, were found
lying, not on the benches where they had originally been
arranged, but in a confused heap on the floor, as though
they had been cast there by former plunderers, or " thrown
down by an earthquake," as Gori suggests—more pro-
bably the former. Just within the door stood a beautiful
Roman cippus, with a sepulchral inscription in Latin, to
"A. Csecina."6 Most of the urns also bore inscriptions,
some in Etruscan, a few in Latin, but all of the same
family. They have fortunately been preserved in the
Museum of the city, just then commenced, but the tomb
where they had lain for at least two thousand years, has
been covered in, and its very site is now forgotten.7
A second tomb of this family was discovered in 1785,
containing about forty urns ; none of them with Latin
inscriptions.8
A third tomb of the Caecina family was discovered in
1810, outside the Gate of Diana, containing six chambers,
and numerous urns with Etruscan inscriptions.9 Thus it
5 Maffei, Osserv. Lett. V. p. 318 ; ' It was discovered by Dr. Pagnini,
Inghirami, Mon. Etrus. IV. p. 85. whose description of it will be found in
Gori's illustration mates it only 30 feet. Inghirami's Mon. Etrus. IV. p. 107. The
6 Gori (III. p. 94, tab. XI.) and door was 12 braccia (23 feet) below the
Inghirami (Mon. Etrus. VI. p. 23. tav. surface; the first chamber was of irre-
D 3.) call it an altar, which it resembles gular form, having a column in the
in form ; but the inscription marks it as midst, with a base and capital of the
a cippus. It is now in the Museum of Tuscan order, two rows of benches
V olterra. around, on which the urns were found
Illustrations of this tomb are given upset and in great confusion; ten of
by Gori, III. tab. X, and Inghirami, them were well preserved, and with
IV. tav. XIV. XV. Etruscan inscriptions—none with Latin.
Inghirami, Mon. Etrus. I. p. 11. The other five chambers were of inferior