244 



people were little addicted to maritime pursuits ; while they 

 were in close communication with the Sidonians (of the same 

 race), through the Mitzraite colony of the Philistines. In 

 Etruria, not less remarkable for its profuse employment of 

 bronze, we know that they did not obtain it directly, for it is 

 recorded that an expedition was fitted out by them, to open a 

 communication with the tin islands, which failed, in conse- 

 sequence of the jealousy of the Phoenicians. Hence we may 

 conclude that the latter held a monopoly of the tin. In Judea, 

 we find Solomon obliged to employ a Tyrian founder for the 

 bronze works of the temple, and we gather from the account, 

 also, how they were cast — in loam.* But Greece, in the Ho- 

 meric age, presents a state of things much more conformable 

 to what I suppose was the condition of Ireland when this col- 

 lection was buried. Iron scarcely appears to be in use ; and 

 it may be surmised that the art of working bronze itself was 

 not generally understood, from the poet's description of Vul- 

 can making the arms of Achilles. No mention is made of 

 casting or moulds, though a reference to Milton's splendid 

 description of the infernal palace shews how much more 

 poetic that would have been than the hammer and anvil. It 

 seems as if the god merely heated and chased into shape 

 sheets of metal, already prepared.f It may be added, that 

 Homer describes all articles of superior workmanship as Sido- 

 nian ; and represents this people as trading in every part of 

 Greece. Their ships run into some cove, and their factors 

 go to the dwellings of the neighbouring chiefs. These, 

 though at feud among themselves, and driving each other's 



* Moulds for celts have been found here and in other countries, but were, 

 perhaps, employed to recast old bronze ; they could not turn out work very- 

 neat, and many of these tools have apparently been cast in sand. These spears 

 were, I think, cast in loam. 



t Bronze is brittle at a red heat ; but it and even bell-metal are mallea- 

 ble at a temperature below visible ignition. Speculum metal is not brittle 

 while red hot. 



