Page:History of Art in Phrygia, Lydia, Caria and Lycia.djvu/146

 1 3 o HISTORY OF ART IN ANTIQUITY. reliefs of the theatre of Aizani. 1 On the other side, owing to the depth of the silt, we could descry nothing. The drawings of our predecessors, however, show a Gorgon's head. 2 Over the door- way ran a cornice, now almost obliterated, and over it again was a bas-relief flanked by semi-balusters. The middle of the field is occupied by a double- handled vase of simple, elegant design. Numbers may be seen in our museums, labelled "Italo- Grseco," whose contour is precisely similar. A lion and a lioness are seen on either side of the FIG. 87. Kumbet tomb, vase ; they look at each other, and advance as if to drink out of it. The bas-relief is separated from the frontal by a narrow cornice, upheld by large modules or modillions which reappear under the side beams of the roof; but between each module come out small heads finely carved (Fig. 87). Below them are dentals. The corona of this pediment is allied to the native rock by an elegant foliate scroll, terminating at the angles and at the top in graceful rich palmettes and acanthus - shaped leaves (Fig. 88). Such is the ex- ternal aspect of the monument. If we pass the rectangular door and enter the chamber, we shall find a single vaulted grave scooped in the left wall. A passage nar- rower than the entrance gives access to the second chamber, which is somewhat lower than the first, with semi-circular arch. Its arrangement is different : three sarcophagi of unequal size are pierced in the floor, and at the bottom of one opens a circular hole which sinks into the rock. It was filled with earth. To our thinking the work about the walls and troughs is less good than that of the first chamber, and betrays hurry and a modern hand, as if this had been a later addition pieced on to the original 1 PHILIPPE LE BAS, Voyage Arche., fol., Plate XIV. 2 In Stewart's Plate the head is shown with luxuriant hair ; two concentric circles are all Bartle has given. FIG. 88. Kumbet tomb. Palmette at angle of cornice. Explor., Plate VII.