Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/49

 NÛRAGHS. 31 In the present day, the projection of the principal tower is not greater than that of the three sides of the block (Fig. 21) ; but the fact that the chambers to the right and left are loftier than the central hall, shows that it was not so formerly (Cut c, d, Fig. 22). That this room is more important is indicated by its larger dimen- sions, the three cells on either side, and its position in respect to the passage (Fig. 23, a b) ; its being lower than the side cham- bers is accounted for by a second placed over it, of which the lower portion is still extant, whilst the three surrounding towers had but one storey. In other agglomerated monuments the pro- portions, and particularly the relief of the central cone, far exceed M Fig. 24.— The Oes Nûragh. La Marmora. Atlas, Plate XI. those of the outer towers ; exemplified in the nuragh " Oes," of which a drawing in perspective is given (Fig. 24). l Examples of niiraghs with towers placed at some little distance from and unconnected with each other, but which may have been distributed along an outer wall crowning a hill-top or mound, also occur, albeit less frequently. Such is the Sarecci, in the district of Gaspini, about 200 metres in circumference, of which we give a plan (Fig. 25), and a perspective view (Fig. 26). 2 The most complex, however, is the Ortu, near Domus-Novas, in the division of Iglesias, with base still perfect, as seen in La Marmora's plan 1 The St. Antine Nuragh from its triangular shape bears much affinity to the Losa. I La Marmora, Voyage en Sardaigne, Pt. II. p. 57-60, Plate VI.