DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0534
chap, lix.] MUSEO GREGORIANO.—BRONZES. 517
or rather rake, found with them. The tongs are on
wheels, and terminate in serpents' heads ; the shovel's
handle ends in a swan's neck ; and the rake in a human
hand, as shown in the annexed wood-cut.
These are from Vulci, but such are found
also on many Etruscan sites.1
At one end of the room is a war-chariot—
a biga—not of Etruscan antiquity, but Roman,
found many years since at Roma Vecchia, in
the Campagna, six miles on the Appian Way.
The body alone is ancient—the pole and
wheels are restored, with the exception of the
bronze ornaments.2 By its side is a colossal
arm of bronze, also Roman, of the time of
Trajan, and of great beauty; and the tail of
a huge dolphin—both found in the sea at
Civita Vecchia.
On the shelves, and in the glass-cases in
the corners of the room are numerous articles
in great variety. Creagrce, or grappling-irons, with six
or eight prongs, of formidable appearance, and myste-
rious meaning, but probably culinary or sacrificial instru-
ments, for taking up and turning over flesh. One with
no prongs, but similar branches of metal terminating in
serpents' heads, shows that they may sometimes have
served other purposes.3 Handles of cauldrons, or, it may
be, of wooden furniture, of elegant and fanciful forms
and rich decorations, often with figures in relief.4 Strigils
—hair-pins, ending in the heads of rams or dogs, a
1 Mus. Gregor. I. lav. XIV. 4 The illustrations given in the Mus.
2 Inghirami, Mon. Etrus. VI. tav. Gregor. I. tav. LVIII—LX., show the
U 5. great taste and elegant fancy of the
See the illustrations at page 435 of Etruscans in this branch of art
FIRE RAKE.
Vol. I., and Mus. Gregor. I. tav. XLVII.
or rather rake, found with them. The tongs are on
wheels, and terminate in serpents' heads ; the shovel's
handle ends in a swan's neck ; and the rake in a human
hand, as shown in the annexed wood-cut.
These are from Vulci, but such are found
also on many Etruscan sites.1
At one end of the room is a war-chariot—
a biga—not of Etruscan antiquity, but Roman,
found many years since at Roma Vecchia, in
the Campagna, six miles on the Appian Way.
The body alone is ancient—the pole and
wheels are restored, with the exception of the
bronze ornaments.2 By its side is a colossal
arm of bronze, also Roman, of the time of
Trajan, and of great beauty; and the tail of
a huge dolphin—both found in the sea at
Civita Vecchia.
On the shelves, and in the glass-cases in
the corners of the room are numerous articles
in great variety. Creagrce, or grappling-irons, with six
or eight prongs, of formidable appearance, and myste-
rious meaning, but probably culinary or sacrificial instru-
ments, for taking up and turning over flesh. One with
no prongs, but similar branches of metal terminating in
serpents' heads, shows that they may sometimes have
served other purposes.3 Handles of cauldrons, or, it may
be, of wooden furniture, of elegant and fanciful forms
and rich decorations, often with figures in relief.4 Strigils
—hair-pins, ending in the heads of rams or dogs, a
1 Mus. Gregor. I. lav. XIV. 4 The illustrations given in the Mus.
2 Inghirami, Mon. Etrus. VI. tav. Gregor. I. tav. LVIII—LX., show the
U 5. great taste and elegant fancy of the
See the illustrations at page 435 of Etruscans in this branch of art
FIRE RAKE.
Vol. I., and Mus. Gregor. I. tav. XLVII.