Dennis, George: The cities and cemeteries of Etruria: in two volumes (Band 2) (London, 1848)

chap, lii.] WHAT CAN THESE PASSAGES MEAN ? 399

gradually diminishes in size as it penetrates the hill,
not regularly tapering, but in successive stages—magna
componere parvis—like the tubes of an open telescope.
From a careful examination of the cuniculi in this hill, all
of which I penetrated, I cannot but regard them as
generally evincing design; here and there are traces
of accidental or random excavation, such as the openings
into the tombs which spoil their symmetry; but these,
I think, did not form part of the original construction;
they must have been made by the riflers carrying on the
passages which were left as cul-de-sacs.6

What the design of this labyrinth may have been, I
cannot surmise. Analogy does not assist us here. True,
the Grotta della Regina at Toscanella, has somewhat
kindred passages, though to a much smaller extent; but
these are involved in equal obscurity; and in one of the
mounds at Monteroni there were found cuniculi of this
description, though leading not from the tomb, but from
the grand entrance-passage.7 There seems to be little
analogy with the system of vertical shafts and horizontal
ways which exists in the same tumulus at Monteroni, in
the necropolis of Ferento, and in the Capitoline. There
is more apparently with the subterranean passages beneath
Chiusi; still more with the Buche de' Saracini at Volterra;
but these are of most doubtful antiquity, origin, and pur-
pose, and probably not sepulchral. Nor can any affinity

6 The passage which connects the bench. May not the passages have
circular chamber with the group to the been formed before certain of the tombs 2
west, narrows very suddenly as it May they not have formed part of the
approaches the latter, and opens in it original sepulchre in connection with
in an irregular aperture, which seems the circular chamber, and have been
of more recent date. In the circular cut into by the subsequent excavation
chamber, one opening is regular, and of other chambers ?
another quite irregular. Yet in one 7 Abeken (Mittelitalien, p. 242) sup-
case it is the neatest and most decidedly poses these to have been the work of
artificial passage that cuts through the former riflers.