Masterpieces Of The Architecture Of Different Nations.

sort of distinction and magnificence , of which the Tuscans took in the end all that was most advantageous for every kind of edifice ; but , at the beginning , it was reserved only for the temples of the Gods . The Romans subsequently decorated with these quadriga * their triumphal arches ; they added trophies ancl other attributies to them , and this ensemble is of the noblest , and most imposing character .

The Etruscans worshipped the God Yertumnus and the goddess Nortite , whom they also called the Great Goddess . It is in the temple of this Great Goddess , at Yolsinium , that they marked the years by a nail driven , with ceremony , into the door , at the renewal of the season , The goddess Yacuna was particularly -worshiped

by the Sabines , who erected temples to her , and appointed for her particular priests . Pomona and Jupiter received also the prayers of the Etruscans . The Sun was Avorshiped by them under the form of Apollo , as alone having the power of conducting his chariots . This god had a celebrated Temple at Clusiumand

, another at Anxur , near Terracina . The worship of all the Gods of Greece was afterwards introduced among them , but with different names or surnames ; -and it is known that Juno had temples at Picenum and near Yeii . There was seen at Lanuvium the temple of Juno Jospita , the foundation of which was attributed to

Diomedes , the companion of ( Eneas , or to the Pelasgi , or finally to the Curetes , the ancient inhabitants of Etruria . Juno Eeronia had throughout the whole of Etruria temples , sacred groves , & c . On the territory where afterwards arose the beautiful city of Florence , there were temples raised to Yenusothers to Marsand

, , others to Hercules on the side of Leghorn , Yolterra and Lucca ; there was at S poleto in Hmbria are common to Hecate and to Neptune ; Thetis had a small temple ancl an oracle among the Perusians , & c .

There Avere also , throughout the whole extent of Etruria , a great number of theatres for games of which these people were passionately fond , and which even formed in some places a part of divine worship . The representations at these theatres consisted of tragedy , comedy and satire ; musical choruses forming part of the two first . Certain satirical pieces were named Attelanes

, from Atilla , the capital of the Oscans , where they originated . Yolumnius , one of the most celebrated poets of Etruria , composed Tuscan tragedies , before the Romans had any public spectacles .

There are found some remains of these theatres at Andria , an Etruscan colony ; they are built of bricks at Yolterra and at Engubium . It was from the Etruscans that the Romans borrowed their circuses . There hai-e been found many Etruscan tombs , the majority of which are built in subterranean places . A

tomb of this kind , near Crotona , has interiorly the form of a cross ; and six small niches are contrived in it for the reception of funeral urns . The whole tomb was formed of twenty-seven stones of a very large size , cut with extreme care ; the roof is composed of only five stonesas long as the edifice . Other smaller tombs

, have altogether but five stones ; one only for the roof , and the four others for the walls . One of these tombs , also made of very large stones , near Perusa , is still entire . It is sixteen Roman feet in length , ten in breadth , and as many in height ; its form is a vaulted parallelogram ; and in the Avails at the sides are

contrived niches for urns . A tomb near Clusium is hollowed out of a mountain ; it can be entered only from the top ; there are recesses contrived in three sides of it , which giA e it the form of a cross the walls are decorated

with painted figures , the roof is flat and ornamented with compartments coloured in purple , green , yellow , blue , black , and a delicate red or rose . Many of these tombs , more spacious on the side of Tarquinium and near Corneta , also hollowed owt of a mountain , have their roof or ceiling supported by pillars , and are

ornamented with different compartments painted either with or without figures . The tomb of Porsenna , near Clusium , also named the Labyrinth , is described thus by Pliny : " a square edifice of stone , having on each front ( interiorly , no doubt ) thirty feet , and fifty in height ; above are five pyramidsone at each angleancl the other in the

, , centre , all of equal height , ancl 150 feet in height and seventy in the base . On the summit of each was a circular covering or dome , where little bells were suspended by chains , and there swayed by the breeze , sent far and wide their tinkling sounds . Tho tomb which is

commonly called that of the Horatii , at Albano , near Rome , may give a very just idea of this edifice , the mass of which was only much larger . These was generally attributed to the Etruscans , the constructions which M . Louis Petit-Radel ascribes to the Cyclopean colonies . We shall hereafter give an ex-¦

position of the historical views of this learned man and as if a stone was taken away from this sort of construction which was executed in very large blocks perfectly well joined both from the way in which they were cut and put together , and yet without mortar ; those aboA'e supported themselves naturallyand formed a kind of

, vault ; so perhaps it is from this reason that there has been ascribed to to the Etruscans the invention of vaults , of which these ancient tombs furnish , as is believed , the first models ; for the obscurity in which the science of antiquity is so often shrouded does not permit us to give a positive assurance as to such propositions . As this

dicussion is foreign to our purpose , and would exceed , the limits of a notice , we must refer , for the discussion of the historical point , ancl of what ajmertains to the art of architecture , to the learned and curious work which the same M . Louis Petit-Radel has published on this absolutely new and highly interesting matter .

With respect to Etruscan columns , of which the Tuscan order described by Yitruviiis is the only model , while waiting for some discovery of an ancient monument to add to our present knowledge , we have seen that they bear a character different from the Greek Doric , even the shortest , of which examples are found in the temples at Pactum , and in some iu Sicily .

The Etruscan tomb , situated in tho Via Appia , in the environs of Albano , is composed but of several layers of very large stones , placed on a kind of foundation slightly elevated , which causes the other stones to appear larger . The joints of the stones are very perfectly cut , and are united together without mortar . It has an appearance of great solidity aud firmness . There was found in the

interior of this tomb an entire skeleton , and several vases round it , some of ivhich were ornamented with paintings . All the details of this tomb are engraved in Piranesi , the Antiquities of Albano . and in the beautiful work of D'Hancarville on the Hamilton Yases .

There is also a small tomb p laced in the principal sepulchral chamber of the family Armaria , near the Temple of Minerva Medica , at Rome , which has all the characters of Etruscan architecture : a very elevated pediment , and in its mouldings a mixture of Greek delicacy , and the bolder manner of the Romans . The great projection of its entablature seems to indicate the plan of two isolated supports , such' as columns , chimeras or cariatides . The eight holes hollowed out in the side