Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/57

 36 Primitive Greece : Mycenian Art. stands on the right ol the main entrance ; but although they are alike in plan, there is yet a difference between them. At Orchomenos the smaller chamber has been excavated at the bottom of a kind of shaft vertically sunk in the rocky hill, and in consequence of it had to be covered with huge schist slabs. The corresponding chamber at Mycenae, on the other hand, is entirely rock-cut. The work here was carried out in different conditions. Before setting up the wall of the circular chamber, they hollowed out in the tufa enough space for a second apart- ment, and connected it with the main chamber by a corridor built F[G. 254. — Mycense tomb. Longitudinal section of laler.il chnmber. in the same style as the rest of the edifice (Fig. 254), The vault, like that of the Treasury of Minyas, is provided with a flat roof; but whilst at Orchomenos schistose slabs, carefully chiselled, lined the whole expanse of the surface, the only existing relics of the decoration at Mycenae are two sectional low plinths, with so slight a salience as to have been overlooked by the draughts- man (Fig. 254). Again, the extreme simplicity, verging on rude- ness, of the rocky walls excites our wonder ; especially when compared with the stateliness and rare magnificence of the other parts of the building. The anomaly is more apparent than real. As in the pit-graves close by, and the chamber at Orchomenos,