Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/388

 356 ROMAN ARCHITECTURE. Part I. 236. Fagade of Herod's Tombs, from a Photograph. corrupt Doric order, similar to some Of the latest Etruscan tombs. i These are now very much ruined, but still retain sufficient traces of the original design to fix their date within or subsequently to the Herodian period without much possibility of doubt. A some- what similar fa9ade, but of a form more like the Greek Doric, found in the valley of Jehosha- phat bears the name of the Sepulchre of St. James. Close to this is a square tomb, known as that of Zechariah, cut in the rock, but standing free. Each fhce is adorned with Ionic jjillars and square piers at the angles, the whole being crown- ed with a pyramidal roof. Per- haps this building should prop- ei'Iy be called a cenotaph, as it is perfectly solid, and no cave or sepulchral vault has been found beneath it, though judg- ing from analogies one might yet be found if jjroperly looked for. A tomb with an architect- ural fa9ade, similar to that of of the so-called Tomb of the Judges, does exist behind it cut in rock, and is consequently of more modern construction. It may be to mark this that the architectural monolith was left. Close to this is another iden- tical Avith it in as far as the basement is concerned, and Avhich is now ]iopulai-ly known as the Tomb of Absalom ; but in this instance the pyramid has been replaced with a structural spire, and it is probable when this was done that the chamber which now exists in its interior was excavated. So-called " Tomb of Zechariah." 1 M. de Saulcy has recently attempted to prove that these tomhs are those of the kings of Judah from David down- wards. Their architecture is undoubt- edly as late as the Christian era, and the cover of the sarcophagus which is now in the Lonvre under" the title of that of David is probably of the same date as these tombs, or if anything more modern.