DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0413
396 CHIUSI.—Poggio Gajeila. [chap. hi.
found in one hundred and twenty minute pieces, now
neatly rejoined—another vase on a small bronze stand
or stool, with legs like those sculptured on the couches
of rock—a cinerary urn in the form of a male statue, with
a moveable head as a lid—many small articles of gold and
jewellery, and some thin lamince of gold attached to the
walls of one of the tombs, as though originally lining it
throughout. In two of these chambers open small passages,
like those in the lower tier.10
On the third and highest tier are three groups of tombs,
one of which is supported by a column of rock; and
here also were found articles of jewellery, and fragments
of painted vases.1
The marvel and mystery of this curious hive of tombs
are the dark passages, which have given rise to as much
speculation as such obscurities are ever wont to excite,
in works sepulchral or literary, ancient or modern, of
Cheops or Coleridge. They are just large enough for a
man to creep through on all fours. Here, traveller, if
curious and enterprising, " you may thrust your arms up
to the elbows in adventures." Enter one of the holes
in the circular tomb, and take a taper, either between
your teeth, or in your fore-paw, to light you in your
Nebuchadnezzar-like progress. You will find quite a
labyrinth in the heart of the mound. Here the passage
makes a wide sweep or circuit, apparently at random—■
10 The longest of these passages extends suggests that they may have been for the
to 35 braccia, or 67 feet, and is not yet slaves or dependents of the family. Ann.
fully cleared out. Another passage, Inst. 1841, p. 32. But the meanest
which is nearly 3 feet square, runs tombs are at the base of the mound,
some distance in a straight line into the Some have seen in these a fourth tier,
rock, and then meets a third, at right though they can hardly be said to be
angles, which is still full of earth. on a different level from the principal
1 As the tombs on this upper tier are groups,
inferior to those below them, Abeken
found in one hundred and twenty minute pieces, now
neatly rejoined—another vase on a small bronze stand
or stool, with legs like those sculptured on the couches
of rock—a cinerary urn in the form of a male statue, with
a moveable head as a lid—many small articles of gold and
jewellery, and some thin lamince of gold attached to the
walls of one of the tombs, as though originally lining it
throughout. In two of these chambers open small passages,
like those in the lower tier.10
On the third and highest tier are three groups of tombs,
one of which is supported by a column of rock; and
here also were found articles of jewellery, and fragments
of painted vases.1
The marvel and mystery of this curious hive of tombs
are the dark passages, which have given rise to as much
speculation as such obscurities are ever wont to excite,
in works sepulchral or literary, ancient or modern, of
Cheops or Coleridge. They are just large enough for a
man to creep through on all fours. Here, traveller, if
curious and enterprising, " you may thrust your arms up
to the elbows in adventures." Enter one of the holes
in the circular tomb, and take a taper, either between
your teeth, or in your fore-paw, to light you in your
Nebuchadnezzar-like progress. You will find quite a
labyrinth in the heart of the mound. Here the passage
makes a wide sweep or circuit, apparently at random—■
10 The longest of these passages extends suggests that they may have been for the
to 35 braccia, or 67 feet, and is not yet slaves or dependents of the family. Ann.
fully cleared out. Another passage, Inst. 1841, p. 32. But the meanest
which is nearly 3 feet square, runs tombs are at the base of the mound,
some distance in a straight line into the Some have seen in these a fourth tier,
rock, and then meets a third, at right though they can hardly be said to be
angles, which is still full of earth. on a different level from the principal
1 As the tombs on this upper tier are groups,
inferior to those below them, Abeken