168 



Mr. PETRIE'S Inquiry into the Origin and 



Roman churches, of which the annexed engraving of the doorway of the 

 ancient church at Ratass, near Tralee,' in Kerry, will present a very charac- 

 teristic example : 



This doorway, which, like the whole of the church, is built in a style of ma- 

 sonry perfectly Cyclopean, except in the use of lime cement, is five feet six 

 inches in height from the present level of the ground, which seems consider- 

 ably raised, and would be evidently not less than six feet in height from the 

 threshold or base to the lintel, and in width three feet one inch at the base, 

 and two feet eight inches at the top. The stones which, as will be seen, are all 

 of great size, in most instances extend through the entire thickness of the jambs, 

 which is three feet one inch ; and the lintel-stone is seven feet six inches in 

 length, and two feet in height, and extends through the whole thickness of the 

 wall. As further illustrations of this very ancient church will be found in the 

 succeeding pages of this work, it is only necessary here to observe, that it is 

 wholly built of old red sandstone, " brought," as Dr. Smith remarks, " at a great 

 distance, from the mountains; although there were fine quarries of limestone to 

 be had on the spot." Antient and Present State of the County of Kerry, p. 167. 



