DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0329
312 SATURNIA.
[CHAP. XL1X.
but the tomb is either beneath, or within, the monu-
mental facade;—here alone it is above it. For the rock
itself has been carved with architectural decorations, per-
haps on each face, though the southern one alone retains
such traces.1 The extreme simplicity of the details seems
to mark this monument as Etruscan.
No other monument could I perceive near the walls;
but on the slope beneath the city to the south, and on the
way to the Bagni, are several ancient tombs, similar in
character but of smaller size and more ruined than those
in the Pian di Palma, which I am about to describe. This
spot is called La Pestiera. The necropolis of Saturnia does
not he so much on the slopes around, as at Volterra, or on
the opposite heights, as at Tarquinii; but in the low
grounds on the other bank of the Albegna, two miles or
more from the city. This may be in great measure owing
to the rocky nature of these slopes, which would not
readily admit of excavation ; for the early Italians always
sought the easiest materials for their chisels, and never
attempted the marvels in granite, porphyry, or basalt,
achieved by the children of Ham.
On these slopes are traces of several Roman roads—all
of the usual polygonal pavement.2
KaTofiriTai. Ann. Inst. 1841, pp. 16,19. chisel committed to it far better than
Mon. Ined. Inst. III. tav. XXVI. I the tuib or sandstone of which most
have observed them also in the necro- Etruscan monuments are hewn, it
polis of Syracuse. seems probable that there were none.
1 Here are two pilasters with square 2 Sir R. C. Hoare traced five of these
abaci, of most simple character, sup- roads—running from Saturnia towards
porting an architrave, which is divided Rome, Monte Argentaro,RusellEe, Siena,
IB the middle by a sort of chimney— and Chiusi, respectively. The first, which
the whole in very low relief, forming issues from the Porta Romana, is almost
indeed but a panelling to the smooth perfect for some distance down the slope,
face of the rock. No traces of figures This must be the Via Clodia. See Vol.
or of inscriptions are visible, and from I. p. 463. The second, which led down
the hardness of the travertine, which the valley of the Albegna, I traced by
would preserve any such works of the its kerb-stones on the ascent from Scan-
[CHAP. XL1X.
but the tomb is either beneath, or within, the monu-
mental facade;—here alone it is above it. For the rock
itself has been carved with architectural decorations, per-
haps on each face, though the southern one alone retains
such traces.1 The extreme simplicity of the details seems
to mark this monument as Etruscan.
No other monument could I perceive near the walls;
but on the slope beneath the city to the south, and on the
way to the Bagni, are several ancient tombs, similar in
character but of smaller size and more ruined than those
in the Pian di Palma, which I am about to describe. This
spot is called La Pestiera. The necropolis of Saturnia does
not he so much on the slopes around, as at Volterra, or on
the opposite heights, as at Tarquinii; but in the low
grounds on the other bank of the Albegna, two miles or
more from the city. This may be in great measure owing
to the rocky nature of these slopes, which would not
readily admit of excavation ; for the early Italians always
sought the easiest materials for their chisels, and never
attempted the marvels in granite, porphyry, or basalt,
achieved by the children of Ham.
On these slopes are traces of several Roman roads—all
of the usual polygonal pavement.2
KaTofiriTai. Ann. Inst. 1841, pp. 16,19. chisel committed to it far better than
Mon. Ined. Inst. III. tav. XXVI. I the tuib or sandstone of which most
have observed them also in the necro- Etruscan monuments are hewn, it
polis of Syracuse. seems probable that there were none.
1 Here are two pilasters with square 2 Sir R. C. Hoare traced five of these
abaci, of most simple character, sup- roads—running from Saturnia towards
porting an architrave, which is divided Rome, Monte Argentaro,RusellEe, Siena,
IB the middle by a sort of chimney— and Chiusi, respectively. The first, which
the whole in very low relief, forming issues from the Porta Romana, is almost
indeed but a panelling to the smooth perfect for some distance down the slope,
face of the rock. No traces of figures This must be the Via Clodia. See Vol.
or of inscriptions are visible, and from I. p. 463. The second, which led down
the hardness of the travertine, which the valley of the Albegna, I traced by
would preserve any such works of the its kerb-stones on the ascent from Scan-