Gell, William: The itinerary of Greece: With a commentary on Pausanias and Strabo and an account of the monuments of antiquity at present existing in that country (London, 1810)

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES, &c. 145

PLATE IV.

Plate 4, is the section and plan of the treasury of Atreus. Its
situation in the slope of the hill will be understood by consulting the
plate. Some have imagined that the pressure of the earth was neces-
sary to the existence of such a dome, but that idea does not appear
correct.

The thickness of the walls, except at the entrance, cannot be ascer-
tained, as the building is perfect, so that the outer face of the stone
nearest the earth is only given by guess. It has been pretended that
the great gate was originally entered by ascending three steps of
stone. The truth of this can only be ascertained by excavation.

PLATE V.

Plate 5, represents the gate of the treasury at Mycenae. In the ar-
chitrave are seen holes here too plainly shewn, into which brass nails
have been driven. On each side of the triangular opening, holes are
visible, Avhich seem to have served for the pins which fastened orna-
ments of stone, probably the pilsaters, and the coating of green mar-
ble ornamented with balls and spirals, which were found buried be-
low, and of which specimens may be seen in the Earl of Elgin's col-
lection.

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