DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0506
chap. Lvni.] ETRUSCAN VAULT AT S. MANNO. 489
subterranean character.9 Moreover, the existence of an
altar is in no way inconsistent with the supposition of a
tomb, for the relation between tombs and temples is well
known; and a shrine, where offerings might be made to
the Manes, was not unfrequent in ancient sepulchres.1
The beauty, the perfection of the masonry in this vault,
not to be excelled in modern times, might have given rise
to doubts of its Etruscan construction, had not this been
put beyond all question by an inscription in that language
in large letters, graven deep in the masonry, and extending,
within the arch, from one end of the vault to the other.
There are three lines, and the inscription, for length, may
rival that in the Museum of Perugia.2 With such a proof
as this, who can doubt that the Etruscans knew and
practised the arch,—and who shall throw suspicion on the
Etruscan construction of certain vaults and arches in
sepulchres and gates in this land, merely on account of
the perfection of the workmanship and excellent preserva-
tion of the monuments % This vault proves that such
things may have been, and heightens the probability that
certain of them were, of Etruscan origin.
This vault has been open for ages ; indeed, it is among
the best known of Etruscan sepulchres. Yet though
applied to base purposes, it has received little injury;
probably owing to the hardness of the travertine.
9 Gori (Mus. Etms. III. p. 81) and Virg. Ma. III. 63, 305 ; IV. 457 ; V.
Passeri (ap. eund. III. p. 100) took 48, 86. Arnobius (adv. Nat. VI. 6,7)
it for a sepulchre. So also Abeken, Mit- gives numerous proofs of the relation
telitalien, p. 250. Ciatti, a native his- between temples and sepulchres, among
torian of Perugia, thought it was a prison the Greeks and Romans,
for slaves. - This inscription has been published
1 The analogy and connection between by Buonarroti, p. 98, ap. Dempster, II.;
temples and tombs is well established. by Gori, Mus. Etrus. III. class. II. tav.
The sepulchre was in fact the shrine of V.; Passeri, ap. eund. III. p. 107 ; and
the Manes, who were regarded as gods. Lanzi, Saggio, II. p. 514.
subterranean character.9 Moreover, the existence of an
altar is in no way inconsistent with the supposition of a
tomb, for the relation between tombs and temples is well
known; and a shrine, where offerings might be made to
the Manes, was not unfrequent in ancient sepulchres.1
The beauty, the perfection of the masonry in this vault,
not to be excelled in modern times, might have given rise
to doubts of its Etruscan construction, had not this been
put beyond all question by an inscription in that language
in large letters, graven deep in the masonry, and extending,
within the arch, from one end of the vault to the other.
There are three lines, and the inscription, for length, may
rival that in the Museum of Perugia.2 With such a proof
as this, who can doubt that the Etruscans knew and
practised the arch,—and who shall throw suspicion on the
Etruscan construction of certain vaults and arches in
sepulchres and gates in this land, merely on account of
the perfection of the workmanship and excellent preserva-
tion of the monuments % This vault proves that such
things may have been, and heightens the probability that
certain of them were, of Etruscan origin.
This vault has been open for ages ; indeed, it is among
the best known of Etruscan sepulchres. Yet though
applied to base purposes, it has received little injury;
probably owing to the hardness of the travertine.
9 Gori (Mus. Etms. III. p. 81) and Virg. Ma. III. 63, 305 ; IV. 457 ; V.
Passeri (ap. eund. III. p. 100) took 48, 86. Arnobius (adv. Nat. VI. 6,7)
it for a sepulchre. So also Abeken, Mit- gives numerous proofs of the relation
telitalien, p. 250. Ciatti, a native his- between temples and sepulchres, among
torian of Perugia, thought it was a prison the Greeks and Romans,
for slaves. - This inscription has been published
1 The analogy and connection between by Buonarroti, p. 98, ap. Dempster, II.;
temples and tombs is well established. by Gori, Mus. Etrus. III. class. II. tav.
The sepulchre was in fact the shrine of V.; Passeri, ap. eund. III. p. 107 ; and
the Manes, who were regarded as gods. Lanzi, Saggio, II. p. 514.