DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.847#0267
246 TAEQUINIA.
the west, and Castellina at the north. The site of
the latter is now occupied by a ruined convent.
Tarquinia is defended by a high precipice round
nearly the whole of its circuit, so that walls
were scarcely necessary. Its gates were apparently
six, one of which on the north side seems to have
looked towards Toscanella, (anciently Toscania,) with
a sort of mound and parapets which formed an
approach across a ravine; a third on the east might
have been of less consequence ; a fourth on the same
side must have been that of Norcia, an Etruscan
town, more anciently called Orkle (a name perhaps
corrupted from Hercules) and Orcia; a fifth was to
the south, and its road ran along the valley to the
west, towards Corneto and Gravisca; a sixth was in
the centre of the southern wall. A paved road still
perfect, which must have been the sacred way, or
the road to the necropolis, runs from this south
gate, and joins that of the valley at right angles;
it then probably ascended the opposite eminence,
now called Monte Rozzi, one of the most singular
and interesting spots in Europe.
" This hill lies in a direction parallel to the city,
in a line nearly east and west, and on its summit
are seen three hundred tumuli or more, some of
which, upon being opened, were found to cover Etrus-
can tombs, and to contain invaluable and, up to
that moment, unsuspected treasures; being adorned
with paintings which serve to throw much light
upon the antiquities of Etruria. Some of these tumuli
the west, and Castellina at the north. The site of
the latter is now occupied by a ruined convent.
Tarquinia is defended by a high precipice round
nearly the whole of its circuit, so that walls
were scarcely necessary. Its gates were apparently
six, one of which on the north side seems to have
looked towards Toscanella, (anciently Toscania,) with
a sort of mound and parapets which formed an
approach across a ravine; a third on the east might
have been of less consequence ; a fourth on the same
side must have been that of Norcia, an Etruscan
town, more anciently called Orkle (a name perhaps
corrupted from Hercules) and Orcia; a fifth was to
the south, and its road ran along the valley to the
west, towards Corneto and Gravisca; a sixth was in
the centre of the southern wall. A paved road still
perfect, which must have been the sacred way, or
the road to the necropolis, runs from this south
gate, and joins that of the valley at right angles;
it then probably ascended the opposite eminence,
now called Monte Rozzi, one of the most singular
and interesting spots in Europe.
" This hill lies in a direction parallel to the city,
in a line nearly east and west, and on its summit
are seen three hundred tumuli or more, some of
which, upon being opened, were found to cover Etrus-
can tombs, and to contain invaluable and, up to
that moment, unsuspected treasures; being adorned
with paintings which serve to throw much light
upon the antiquities of Etruria. Some of these tumuli