DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1021#0132
THE DWELLINGS OF THE DEAD
LeSS Another
typical
at a grave
Fig. 34. Altar over Grave IV.
furniture, we proceed to a like rapid survey of one of the
graves occupied by men as well as women,
than five feet from Grave III., on the west, '
depth of 26 feet below the former surface of the mound
(says Dr. Schliemann) I struck an almost circular mass of
masonry, with a large round opening' in the form of a well;
it was 4 feet high and
measured 7 feet from
north to south and
5| from east to west.
I at once recognized
in this curious monu-
ment a primitive altar
for funeral rites, and
was strengthened in
this belief by two
slabs in the form of tombstones which lay in a horizontal
position below the altar and which must have once been
erected on the spot to mark the site of the sepulchre." At
a depth of 26| feet (or about 3 feet directly beneath the
foot of the altar), was found a grave 24 by 18|- feet in
length and breadth, with sides varying in depth from 6 to
10 feet, the bottom lying 33 feet below the mound surface.
The tomb was lined to a height of 7|- feet by a slanting
stone wall, 4 feet wide at bottom, thus leaving an area of
16 by 10£ feet available for interments. In this space,
again on a pebble bed, lay the bodies of five persons,1 three
with heads to the east, the other two with heads to the
north.
" The five bodies of this Fourth Tomb (says Schliemann)
were literally smothered in jewels," and again his inventory,
1 By a careful study of the offerings, Seliuchhardt (p. 214 ff.) has shown that
in all probability two of the five were women.
LeSS Another
typical
at a grave
Fig. 34. Altar over Grave IV.
furniture, we proceed to a like rapid survey of one of the
graves occupied by men as well as women,
than five feet from Grave III., on the west, '
depth of 26 feet below the former surface of the mound
(says Dr. Schliemann) I struck an almost circular mass of
masonry, with a large round opening' in the form of a well;
it was 4 feet high and
measured 7 feet from
north to south and
5| from east to west.
I at once recognized
in this curious monu-
ment a primitive altar
for funeral rites, and
was strengthened in
this belief by two
slabs in the form of tombstones which lay in a horizontal
position below the altar and which must have once been
erected on the spot to mark the site of the sepulchre." At
a depth of 26| feet (or about 3 feet directly beneath the
foot of the altar), was found a grave 24 by 18|- feet in
length and breadth, with sides varying in depth from 6 to
10 feet, the bottom lying 33 feet below the mound surface.
The tomb was lined to a height of 7|- feet by a slanting
stone wall, 4 feet wide at bottom, thus leaving an area of
16 by 10£ feet available for interments. In this space,
again on a pebble bed, lay the bodies of five persons,1 three
with heads to the east, the other two with heads to the
north.
" The five bodies of this Fourth Tomb (says Schliemann)
were literally smothered in jewels," and again his inventory,
1 By a careful study of the offerings, Seliuchhardt (p. 214 ff.) has shown that
in all probability two of the five were women.