DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.840#0187
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES, &c. 153
celebrated fortification. In some instances the little stones yet
remain, though time has rounded off their angles and destroyed in
many places all trace of the nicety, with which they were once adapted
to each other. As this fact will probably be disputed by those who
have not narrowly examined these buildings, it is proper to remark
that walls in the present state of those of Tiryns and Mycenae would
be entirely useless, for any person with two stakes might ascend with-
out much difficulty, by thrusting them alternately into the openings,
and using them as steps. The specimen here given of the walls of
Mycenae is not of the most ancient stile, but of the stile succeeding it.
There are also at Mycenae walls of the same character with that given
in this plate, at Tiryns. The hole which now has the appearance of
a loop-hole or window, was probably occasioned by the fall or decay
of the stone which originally filled the opening. The two drawings
were made by Mr. Baker, when the author was on the spot. A scale
of feet is added by that gentleman, without which they would have
been very imperfect.
PLATE XV.
Plate 15, is a plan of Tiryns* of which no description is required.
It is probable that the galleries were continued through a great part
of the walls, if not throughout their entire circuit. Where the walls
are very perfect no entrance is found, so that the internal construc-
tion is only visible where the Avails are in a shattered condition, and
fallen blocks have not choaked up the entrance of these passages.
celebrated fortification. In some instances the little stones yet
remain, though time has rounded off their angles and destroyed in
many places all trace of the nicety, with which they were once adapted
to each other. As this fact will probably be disputed by those who
have not narrowly examined these buildings, it is proper to remark
that walls in the present state of those of Tiryns and Mycenae would
be entirely useless, for any person with two stakes might ascend with-
out much difficulty, by thrusting them alternately into the openings,
and using them as steps. The specimen here given of the walls of
Mycenae is not of the most ancient stile, but of the stile succeeding it.
There are also at Mycenae walls of the same character with that given
in this plate, at Tiryns. The hole which now has the appearance of
a loop-hole or window, was probably occasioned by the fall or decay
of the stone which originally filled the opening. The two drawings
were made by Mr. Baker, when the author was on the spot. A scale
of feet is added by that gentleman, without which they would have
been very imperfect.
PLATE XV.
Plate 15, is a plan of Tiryns* of which no description is required.
It is probable that the galleries were continued through a great part
of the walls, if not throughout their entire circuit. Where the walls
are very perfect no entrance is found, so that the internal construc-
tion is only visible where the Avails are in a shattered condition, and
fallen blocks have not choaked up the entrance of these passages.