Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/266

 234 GRECIAN ARCHITECTURE. Part I. Pelasgic Art.1 As might be expected, from the length of time that has elapsed since the Pelasgic races ruled in Greece, and owing to the numerous changes that have taken place In that country since their day, their architectural remains are few, and comparatively insignificant. It has thus come to pass that, were it not for their tombs, their city walls, and their works of civil engineering, such as bridges and tunnels — in which they were pre-eminent — we should hardly now possess any material remains to prove their existence or mark the degree of civilization to which they had reached. The most remarkable of these remains are the tombs of the kings of Mycenae, a city which in Homeric times had a fair title to be con- sidered the capital of Greece, or at all events to be considered one of the most important of her cities. The Dorians described these as 122. Section and Plan of Tomb of Atreus at Mycense. Scale of plan 100 ft. to 1 in. treasuries, from the number of precious objects found in them, as in the tombs of the Etruscans, and because they looked u])on such halls as far more than sufficient for the narrow dwellings of the dead. The most perfect and the largest of them now existing is known as the Treasury or Tomb of Atreus at Mycenae, shown in plan and section in the annexed woodcut. The principal chamber is 48 tt. 6 in. in diameter, and is, or was when [)erfect, of the shape of a regular ecjuilateral jiointed arch, a form well ada])ted to the mode of con- struction, which is that of horizontal layers of stones, projecting the ^ Writers who derive their knowledije of GreciaTi art from books only are ex- tr^'iiu'ly indignant wiieii any arehieolo- .yist ventures to surliest that he knows soinetliing of the Peiasgi, or of tlieir af- finities. Their lanj^uage has entirely perished ; and the written accounts are so conflicting and luisatisfactory. that no clear ideas on the subject can be ob- tained from them. It is not. therefore, to be wondered at that authorities should liitherto have differed so much regard- ing them. The testimony of their works is, however, so clear and distinct, that the bookworms would do well to keep tlieir tempers till at least they have mas- tered the evidence and can refute It.