DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9188#0072
54
A rchitecture
of the lintel a triangular space of a steep pitch (about 6o°), in
which was inserted a frontispiece carved on a single stone
representing two lions standing up on either side of an archaic
column supporting a fragment of a rudimentary architrave.1
The heraldic pose of the lions and the technique of their
sculpture, so suggestive of Assyrian reliefs with their splendid
sense of muscular form and energy, are far ahead of an archi-
tecture that is still barbaric, scarcely architecture at all.
There is here nothing to suggest the Doric of Paestum and
Selinus, much to recall the megalithic buildings of Syria, and
the sculpture of the farther East.
The Treasury of Atreus is still more remarkable, not only
because it shows more skill in building, but because its design
is based on a structural motive which seems to have been
wholly abandoned by the successors of the Mycenaean builders.
The Treasury of Atreus (or Tomb of Agamemnon) was
excavated in a hill, and consists of a long passage about
120 ft. by 21 ft. wide, with retaining walls of megalithic
masonry on either side, terminating in a great entrance door-
way. This doorway is flanked on either side by columns
tapering downwards, and decorated with chevrons in a manner
very similar to Norman work of the eleventh century, and
apparently intended solely for ornament.2 The entrance
opened into a circular domed chamber about 48 ft. 6 in. in
diameter, 45 ft. 4 in. high, out of which opened another smaller
chamber. The dome, in section, is built on the curve of
a parabola, formed with courses projecting over one another,
and not set out radial to the curve of the dome—in other
words it is not a true dome or arch, but a succession of corbels.
The internal face of the dome is dressed down, and was
covered with ornament of some sort, whether metal rosettes,
1 The heraldic treatment of the lions is of Eastern origin. The Greeks
hsd a tradition that the chieftains of Mycenae came from Lydia.
2 Portions of these columns are now in the British Museum.
A rchitecture
of the lintel a triangular space of a steep pitch (about 6o°), in
which was inserted a frontispiece carved on a single stone
representing two lions standing up on either side of an archaic
column supporting a fragment of a rudimentary architrave.1
The heraldic pose of the lions and the technique of their
sculpture, so suggestive of Assyrian reliefs with their splendid
sense of muscular form and energy, are far ahead of an archi-
tecture that is still barbaric, scarcely architecture at all.
There is here nothing to suggest the Doric of Paestum and
Selinus, much to recall the megalithic buildings of Syria, and
the sculpture of the farther East.
The Treasury of Atreus is still more remarkable, not only
because it shows more skill in building, but because its design
is based on a structural motive which seems to have been
wholly abandoned by the successors of the Mycenaean builders.
The Treasury of Atreus (or Tomb of Agamemnon) was
excavated in a hill, and consists of a long passage about
120 ft. by 21 ft. wide, with retaining walls of megalithic
masonry on either side, terminating in a great entrance door-
way. This doorway is flanked on either side by columns
tapering downwards, and decorated with chevrons in a manner
very similar to Norman work of the eleventh century, and
apparently intended solely for ornament.2 The entrance
opened into a circular domed chamber about 48 ft. 6 in. in
diameter, 45 ft. 4 in. high, out of which opened another smaller
chamber. The dome, in section, is built on the curve of
a parabola, formed with courses projecting over one another,
and not set out radial to the curve of the dome—in other
words it is not a true dome or arch, but a succession of corbels.
The internal face of the dome is dressed down, and was
covered with ornament of some sort, whether metal rosettes,
1 The heraldic treatment of the lions is of Eastern origin. The Greeks
hsd a tradition that the chieftains of Mycenae came from Lydia.
2 Portions of these columns are now in the British Museum.