Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/322

 290/ ETRUSCAN ARCHITECTURE. Part I. Scale 50 ft. to 1 in. Scale 100 ft. to 1 iu. 176. Tomb of Aruus, Albano. of the mouldings with which it is adorned would lead us to assign to it a more modern date. It consists of a lofty podium, on which are placed five pyramids, a large one in the centre and four smaller ones at the angles. Its present apjDcarance is shown in the annexed woodcut (No. 176), There are not in Etruria any features sufficiently marked to characterize a style of architecture, nor any pillars with their accessories which can be considered to constitute an order. It is true that in some of the rock-cut tombs square piers support the roof; and in one or two instances rounded pillars are found, but these are either without mouldings or ornamented only with Roman details, betraying the lateness of their execution. The absence of built examples of the class of tombs found in the rock pre- vents us from recognizing any of those peculiarities of construction which some- times are as characteristic of the style and as worthy of attention as- the more purely ornamental parts. From their city gates, their aqueducts and bridges, we know that the Etruscans used the radiating arch at an early age, with deep vous- soirs and elegant mouldings, ._ _ - giving it that character of streno;th which the Romans afterwards imparted to their works of the same class. The Cloaca Maxima of Rome (Woodcut No. 101) must be considered as a work exe- cuted under Etruscan super- intendence, and a very per- fect specimen of the class. i At the same time the Etruscans used the pointed arch constructed horizon- tally, and seem to have had the same predilection for it Avhich characterized the cognate Pelasgian race in Greece. A gateway at Arjjino (Woodcut No. 177) is almost identical with that at Thoricus (Woodcut No. 124), but larger and more elegant; and there are Til any specimens of the same class found in Italy. The portion of an aqueduct at Tusculum, shown in Woodcut No. 178, is a curious transi- tion specimen, where the two stones meeting at the apex (usually v....-^<^ 171 Gateway at Arpino.