DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.847#0359
CERE OR AGYLLA.
333
tomb, which we saw in Rome at General Galassi's
house, and which are now in the Gregorian Museum;
but it was unspeakably interesting to look upon the spot
where they had lain, though the only vestige of an or-
namented sepulchre that nowremains is some bronze
nails firmly fixed in the walls, from which the shields
and tazze had formerly hung. Along the sides, and on
a sort of shelf or ledge, beneath the immense stones
which formed the roof, were found the ornamented
shields of bronze, but of such thin metal that they
had evidently been made for ornament only, and not
for battle. Mingled with them were arrows, a bun-
dle of which lay close to the bier. This bier had
four short feet, and was formed
of cross-barred bronze thus; it
stood close to a walled up-door,
the top of which was open, and
upon this were placed two vases
of silver and two vases for liba-
tions. At the head and foot of
the bier were small altars for
sacrifice, and by the side of it
were ranged a number of terra
cotta images, most probably re-
presenting Lares. I do not recol-
lect the precise form of these,but
in the graves at Caere are occa-
sionally found very beautiful clay images, shaped like
mummies, which, until I knew better, I had believed
to be an importation from Egypt. Some bones of the
corpse lay upon the bier somewhat more than three
333
tomb, which we saw in Rome at General Galassi's
house, and which are now in the Gregorian Museum;
but it was unspeakably interesting to look upon the spot
where they had lain, though the only vestige of an or-
namented sepulchre that nowremains is some bronze
nails firmly fixed in the walls, from which the shields
and tazze had formerly hung. Along the sides, and on
a sort of shelf or ledge, beneath the immense stones
which formed the roof, were found the ornamented
shields of bronze, but of such thin metal that they
had evidently been made for ornament only, and not
for battle. Mingled with them were arrows, a bun-
dle of which lay close to the bier. This bier had
four short feet, and was formed
of cross-barred bronze thus; it
stood close to a walled up-door,
the top of which was open, and
upon this were placed two vases
of silver and two vases for liba-
tions. At the head and foot of
the bier were small altars for
sacrifice, and by the side of it
were ranged a number of terra
cotta images, most probably re-
presenting Lares. I do not recol-
lect the precise form of these,but
in the graves at Caere are occa-
sionally found very beautiful clay images, shaped like
mummies, which, until I knew better, I had believed
to be an importation from Egypt. Some bones of the
corpse lay upon the bier somewhat more than three