Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/81

58 building had not been completely cleared; its real condition was mere guesswork, and the existing perspective views, instead of helping, obscured our knowledge. Thus it was that Donaldson, unaware that the shaft tapered downwards, inverted the natural order of things, and set up a capital which, in point of fact, is the base. We are better off to-day, inasmuch as other similar sepultures, recently discovered, and a host of manufactured objects of the same period, suggest many a significant comparison. The halls and approaches to the tomb have been cleared down to the regular soil, and have uncovered details of the highest interest, the bases of the semi-columns, for instance, and other sculptured fragments. Finally, MM. Thiersch and Dörpfeld have made a careful and minute study of this tomb; the former has devoted his whole attention to the facade, the latter to the arrangements of the inner building. Both have noted down, one by one, the traces left by dowel-holes; these afford technical and more or less distinct indications relative to the facings. Yet M. Thiersch, in 1879, wrote to the effect that "there are not sufficient data for a restoration; to attempt it would only result in the production of an entirely fanciful image, and pro tanto devoid of interest." Dr. Adler's language, though less explicit, is no more encouraging. Undismayed by the adverse verdict of these two competent judges, we have dared to undertake a work which they deem impossible (PI. V.). If, in despite of the fiasco said to await us, we have not given up the undertaking, it is because we hope that the method we have adopted will satisfy the severest criticism. The generous and timely help which we have received from all quarters has greatly facilitated our researches; it has enabled us to juxtapose photographs and drawings of all known fragments of the decoration, which we have utilized after having referred them to the surface to be filled, so as to ascertain where they would most fittingly come in. There was no possible hesitation