Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/144

 128' A History of Art in Sardinia and Jud^a. seven in number, further heightened by colourj and in vivid con- trast with the fantastically broken, sombre background, which is not without a certain rude quaintness sui generis. Superficially viewed, the composition may be defined as the meeting of two processions, extending along the two sides of the chamber (Plate VIII.). The longer, which is on the left, as a natural consequence, yields greater variety in accessories and postures, whilst that to the right, except the second figure, which falls a little out of the line, and walks second in the procession, Fig. 311. — lasili-Kaia. Bas-relief in Main Chamber, letter F in Plan. Height of second figure, 81 c. Exploration, Plate XLVIII. consists, seemingly, of women, all cut on the same pattern, robed in long flowing garments, with plaited hair, which falls behind their backs, and high square caps, akin to those on the Merash stela (Figs. 280, 281). It is the same head-gear, but the shape has undergone a change, and is more elegant ; the fluting, too, and the top edge show a decided advance on the plain surface of its predecessors (Fig. 311). The close-fitting tunics, over which is sometimes thrown a mantle (as in northern Syria), ending in a long point behind, which covers one leg but leaves the other exposed, and high conical caps of the figures of the left row, some of whom wear beards,