Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/64

 General Characteristics of the Domed-Tombs. 43 No cupola-grave has been found either with an inscription or a style of furniture which will permit us to place it after the Mycenian period, when tombs assumed other shapes. The subterranean vault, however, apparently retained a certain hold on the popular imagination, even after it had fallen into desue- tude ; its remote antiquity on Grecian soil had much to do with the species of fascination which it exercised on the fancy. The tomb to be raised to the high-priest of Apollo and Helios, in Plato's ideal city, brings to mind the one we have passed in review ; be it in the curvilinear shape of the roof, the circular base of the mound covering the vault, or the provision made in order that the sepulture may have sufficient space for a whole series of successive interments.^ To account for the fact that throughout the classical period quaint sepultures were known to exist in those districts where primitive civilization had had its chief centres, a sufficient'number must have been visible. Many have been destroyed, and the material re-used by the inhabitants ; others are still concealed in the mountain mass ; yet the number of those that are daily brought to light has been increasing for the last twenty years. As these papers were being prepared for the press, fifteen more domed-graves were announced. In the summer of 1892, M. Tsoundas uncovered another tomb between the entrance to the Mycenian citadel and grave No. 2 (Fig. 88), thus bringing up the total number to sixteen. This grave has not yet been excavated ; the dromos, five metres seventy centimetres, is in part rock-hewn, and the rest built of small stones bonded in clay. The faQade is the only portion which is constructed with large blocks dressed fair. Among these are not comprised the Spata and Anoja Messaritica specimens, for although they closely resemble our tombs, they are entirely rock-cut. During this ^ Here is C. F. Hermann's translation of the passage (Teubner's collection). I'he correction we introduce has long been proposed as self-evident and necessary ; the term Trorc/ioc, " drinkable," applied to the stones, is void of sense. Plato wrote : XiBuy woXvTif/Mv, " stones of great value." " Of the graves," he says, " the priests will have a long subterranean gallery, constructed with stones of excellent quality, upon which the passage of time will have no effect. The gallery will contain stone couches, set near each other. The dead having been duly placed in the chamber, a circular mound will be raised above it and a sacred wood planted around, to allow of the building being enlarged on this side, should fresh inmates require the addition to be made (Plato).