Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 1.djvu/369

 34^ Primitive Greixe: Mycenian Art. the limestone used in building the walls. At the right-hand side of the stone threshold there was a circular hollow, upon which, as at Tiryns, turned the foot of the pivot/ shod and faced with bronze. On the edge of this threshold a groove was sunk, fifteen centimetres broad, in which the door moved. A very similar doorway connected the second vestibule with the great hall or megaron. At its entrance we again find a ground- sill with holes for the door-posts, but without the circular hollow for the hinge, or the groove in which the door moved, for, as at Tiryns, there never was a door here ; a flowing curtain sufficed to shut off the room. The megaron, to which easy access could be had, is eleven metres fifty centimetres by twelve metres ninety centimetres. The ceiling was supported by four wooden pillars, which rested on stone bases, now sunk below the concrete floor, owing to its having gained in depth through frequent restorations. This is also the case with the great circular hearth occupying the centre of the megaron, between the columns, of which about a third remains. It is quite enough to give us its diameter, and enable us to re-establish its primordial aspect. It was raised fourteen centimetres above the floor by two low steps, and exhibits five successive stucco coatings, which had all been painted ; glowing embers and hot cinders made frequent repairs necessary. In another chapter will be found a reproduction, after D6rpfeld*s copy of it, of the design which appears on the third and best-preserved layer. The floor around the hearth, like that of the vestibules, consists of a well- made concrete, enlivened with a chequered pattern corresponding almost exactly to that of the Tirynthian megaron ; but along the walls of the room slabs of a kind of alabaster were laid down, and constituted a border or walk around it. As already stated, the farther end of the hall has gone, because it doubtless rested on accumulations which, having given way along with the wall which they supported, were precipitated below into the ravine of the Chavos. The portion of the building extending to the north of the court and the megaron has left but very feeble traces of itself. Four rooms next to the megaron have been noticed at different levels (/, 0, ;;/, «), some with concrete floors, and others with nothing but the bare earth. They were probably sleeping- or
 * A very similar contrivance has lx*en found in Assyria (llistory of Art),