Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/157

 The Sanctuary. Iasili-Ka a. 141 was calculated to stamp the composition with a markedly hieratic character. Such are the mitred bulls projecting beyond the two principal figures ; the hills and men's shoulders supporting deities on the left ; the panther and double-headed eagle bearing tho^se on the right (E in plan). But this religious and symbolic character is particularly noticeable in the figures away from the twin main groups. Facing the centre of the principal chamber rises the tallest figure of the whole group (over three metres high), standing upon twin hill-tops, one of which is broken away. He holds an cediculum in his right hand, and in the sinister a " lituus " or crooked augural rod. His tight-fitting cap is like the Turkish ** tarbush," minus the tassel, and his robe reaches to the ankles ; whilst the beginning of a hilt is seen about the waist. The oediculum is supported by Ionian columns ; a mitred genie occupies the centre, with robe ornamented by a tooth-edged device ; and divine bulls, one on each side, fill up the space. At the entrance of the narrow passage are two winged monsters, already referred to (L M in plan), which we were the first to reproduce — the one with a dog's head, the second apparently a lion's. Judging from their gesture, they seem to have been placed there to guard against witchcraft or to keep off the profane (Figs. 315 and 316). At the southern extremity of the next rather wider passage, which runs through the broad rocky mass, are the groups seen in the annexed woodcuts (Figs. 317 and 318), of which the heads were alone visible (as drawn by Texier and Barth), but which we completely disengaged.^ On the walls behind the bas-reliefs are three rude niches, circular in plan, which could be closed ; for traces of slabs about their apertures can still be detected. Two out of the three are in the west face, upon which are carved a dozen figures, armed with scythes, filing past as though on the march (Fig. 319, N in plan). Of the three tall figures on the east wall, the tallest is un- doubtedly a god (Fig. 320, O in plan) ; his splendid head is placed upon a bust formed by two lions back to back, their muzzles coming out at the sides over the armpits. Suspended to stumpy arms below are two other lions, whose heads rest upon a huge sword-blade, which supports the whole mass. The remaining VThey made drawings of what they saw, without attempting to clear them of the accumulated rubbish.