DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4266#0111
OF THE SUBTERRANEOUS CHAMBER AT MYCENAE. 31
depth of the blocks in this chamber; and its greater degree of dilapidation seems to prove, that this
larger chamber owes its state of preservation to the superior width and depth of its blocks of stone.
Sir William Gell\ on the authority of Mr. Gropius, of Athens, mentions a similar subterraneous
chamber near the banks of the Eurotas, at about seven miles from Sparta.
Fig. 2, represents the plan of the supcrcilium or architrave over the door.
Fig. 3, shews the plan of the same architrave on the step.
A small portion of this plate has been given to an example near Rome, for the purpose of
comparison with the construction of the subterraneous chamber. It will be observed, that the plan of
this reservoir, which is situate close to the enclosure wall of the city of Tusculum, is oblong, but the
section of the vault follows a sweep similar to that of the Mycenaean example, with horizontal courses
projecting over each other as they advance in height, till they reach the upper course, which consists
of flat blocks of stone forming an acute apex by their juncture at the summit. A subterraneous water-
course or conduit led a stream of water through the city into the reservoir; whence it continued its
course into a well, under the highway, about eleven feet deep, from which it supplied by another con-
duit the edifices on the declivity of the hill below. The entrance into the emissary is narrower at the
top than at the bottom; and is covered by one block of stone now split into two.
We may assume almost the certainty of the Greek origin of this example from the nature of its
construction. Nor need we be surprised at the remoteness of a monument of Greek origin, from the soil of
Graecia Propria. Daedalus, as early as the year 1250 b. c, left many specimens of his taste and science in
Italy and Sicily. At Cuma2b, he built a temple to Apollo, in recognition of his providential escape
from Crete. In Sicily, he built a canal at Megara, extended the summit of Mount Eryx by means of
terraces, and constructed a thermal cavern at Selinus. Diodorus0 mentions several of his works at
his time destroyed by the ravages of many ages. In fact, the emigrations from Greece to Italy were
frequent, and little doubt can be entertained of this emissary being the result of Pelasgic ingenuity.
PLATE III.
SECTION OF THE CHAMBER.
The original profile of the inner line represented a species of parabolic curve, the regular line
of which is given on one side ; but the other shews the irregular form that has resulted from the
imperfect nature of the construction, by which the pressure of the earth has thrust in the stones: in
order to mark the variation that has taken place, the original profile is dotted in. The line of the
pavement and steps has been ascertained from the Elgin drawings; the irregular line above it
shews the present depth of the accumulated earth. In the centre is the door leading into the inner
chamber, the supcrcilium of which is relieved by a vacuum left by the stones above overhanging each
other, as over the greater door, and as is discernible in the entrances to the Pyramids of Egypt. The
whole face of the chamber was covered with thin plates of brass or bronze, fixed to the stone con-
struction by metal nails, the holes for which are very evident: the holes, however, at the door, have a
very different appearance, being larger, and probably received the fixings of the door or metal grating.
The entrance is covered by two stones, the inner one of which is twenty-six feet ten inches long, and
sixteen feet deep, by three feet ten inches thick; the size and weight of which immense block are
evidences of the mechanical skill and indefatigable labor of the ancients: Mr. Dodwelld calculates its
gravity at 133 tons.
" Itinerary of the Morea, p. 225. c Lib. IV. p. 321. Selinuntine Metopes, described by Angell
b Virgil iEneid. 1. VI. v. 17- Sil. Ital. 1. XII. v. 102. Aus. and Evans, p. 13. fol. Lond. 1826.
Id)'n- 10. v. 300. •> Tour through Greece, Vol. II. p. 233.
depth of the blocks in this chamber; and its greater degree of dilapidation seems to prove, that this
larger chamber owes its state of preservation to the superior width and depth of its blocks of stone.
Sir William Gell\ on the authority of Mr. Gropius, of Athens, mentions a similar subterraneous
chamber near the banks of the Eurotas, at about seven miles from Sparta.
Fig. 2, represents the plan of the supcrcilium or architrave over the door.
Fig. 3, shews the plan of the same architrave on the step.
A small portion of this plate has been given to an example near Rome, for the purpose of
comparison with the construction of the subterraneous chamber. It will be observed, that the plan of
this reservoir, which is situate close to the enclosure wall of the city of Tusculum, is oblong, but the
section of the vault follows a sweep similar to that of the Mycenaean example, with horizontal courses
projecting over each other as they advance in height, till they reach the upper course, which consists
of flat blocks of stone forming an acute apex by their juncture at the summit. A subterraneous water-
course or conduit led a stream of water through the city into the reservoir; whence it continued its
course into a well, under the highway, about eleven feet deep, from which it supplied by another con-
duit the edifices on the declivity of the hill below. The entrance into the emissary is narrower at the
top than at the bottom; and is covered by one block of stone now split into two.
We may assume almost the certainty of the Greek origin of this example from the nature of its
construction. Nor need we be surprised at the remoteness of a monument of Greek origin, from the soil of
Graecia Propria. Daedalus, as early as the year 1250 b. c, left many specimens of his taste and science in
Italy and Sicily. At Cuma2b, he built a temple to Apollo, in recognition of his providential escape
from Crete. In Sicily, he built a canal at Megara, extended the summit of Mount Eryx by means of
terraces, and constructed a thermal cavern at Selinus. Diodorus0 mentions several of his works at
his time destroyed by the ravages of many ages. In fact, the emigrations from Greece to Italy were
frequent, and little doubt can be entertained of this emissary being the result of Pelasgic ingenuity.
PLATE III.
SECTION OF THE CHAMBER.
The original profile of the inner line represented a species of parabolic curve, the regular line
of which is given on one side ; but the other shews the irregular form that has resulted from the
imperfect nature of the construction, by which the pressure of the earth has thrust in the stones: in
order to mark the variation that has taken place, the original profile is dotted in. The line of the
pavement and steps has been ascertained from the Elgin drawings; the irregular line above it
shews the present depth of the accumulated earth. In the centre is the door leading into the inner
chamber, the supcrcilium of which is relieved by a vacuum left by the stones above overhanging each
other, as over the greater door, and as is discernible in the entrances to the Pyramids of Egypt. The
whole face of the chamber was covered with thin plates of brass or bronze, fixed to the stone con-
struction by metal nails, the holes for which are very evident: the holes, however, at the door, have a
very different appearance, being larger, and probably received the fixings of the door or metal grating.
The entrance is covered by two stones, the inner one of which is twenty-six feet ten inches long, and
sixteen feet deep, by three feet ten inches thick; the size and weight of which immense block are
evidences of the mechanical skill and indefatigable labor of the ancients: Mr. Dodwelld calculates its
gravity at 133 tons.
" Itinerary of the Morea, p. 225. c Lib. IV. p. 321. Selinuntine Metopes, described by Angell
b Virgil iEneid. 1. VI. v. 17- Sil. Ital. 1. XII. v. 102. Aus. and Evans, p. 13. fol. Lond. 1826.
Id)'n- 10. v. 300. •> Tour through Greece, Vol. II. p. 233.