File:Tour to the sepulchres of Etruria, in 1839 (1841) (14595135579).jpg

Identifier: tourtosepulchre00gray (find matches)
Title: Tour to the sepulchres of Etruria, in 1839
Year: 1841 (1840s)
Authors: Gray, Elizabeth Caroline Johnstone, 1800-1887
Subjects: Tombs
Publisher: London : J. Hatchard
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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of the flute pours out a liba-tion beside a large vase ornamented with fillets,placed in the centre of the picture; and two moredancers are represented, one of whom is empty-ing a tazza. These figures are naked, and havecoronets or circlets on the head, on the arm, orin the right hand. Funereal wreaths or chapletsare hung round the walls of this tomb, and hereand there are seen to depend from the branches ofyoung olive trees, as was common among the an-cients, who hung them upon this plant, which theyregarded as sacred to the dead. I have alreadymentioned this funeral scene as being copied in theGregorian Museum. GROTTA DEL TRICLINIO, OR MARZI. Quitting this house of mourning, where we sawthat the affections and feelings were the same threethousand years ago as they are to-day, we entereda mansion of a very different character, the houseof feasting, where a scene of splendid and luxuriousrevelry is less appropriately depicted in the silentabode of the dead. Camera dei triclinii e del
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^J^9j 0AS/(SA^PyWiW7. TARQDINIA. 189 ballo—chamber of feasting and dancing. Here isa full display of Etruscan magnificence in dress,furniture, and all the accessories of sumptuous living.The roof is vaulted, and ornamented with diverscolours, and divided in the midst by a beam whichis gracefully twined with branches of bacchic ivy.Above the frieze opposite the entrance are twomen, both in an attitude of supplication, and abovethe door itself are two panthers, the usual guar-dians of the tomb. At the side of the door are twoyouthful horsemen seated sideways upon their steeds,very slightly dressed, and with lances in their hands.The picture of the middle wall represents threecouches, each containing a man and a woman. Infront of two of these are tables covered with vases,and in front of the third is a large vessel out ofwhich wine is poured into smaller vessels, to behanded round to the guests by a young slave. Theparty-coloured coverings of the tables and couchesare very beautiful, a

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