32 ON SEPULCHRAL MONUMENTS. 
the means of measuring it, but it could not fall 
far short of two hundred feet. Several attempts 
have been made to effect an entrance into the 
monument, under the idea that treasures would _ 
be found there; but hitherto little more has been 
done than to scratch the surface; and the interior 
construction of one of the most ancient sepul- 
chres in the world, (B. C., 560) is still a secret. 
Though there is less of mystery, there is 
scarcely less of interest, connected with this en- 
ormous barrow, than with the one at Mycene.— 
We know beyond all doubt, that it is the monu- 
ment of Alyattes, the father of Croesus, and the 
king of Lydia. We know, that it was erected 
by order of the wealthiest monarch of Asia, that 
it was described by Herodotus, and that it must 
have been visited by Solon;—and there is surely 
enough of magic in these associations, to awaken 
our warmest sympathies for this mighty relic of 
a people, whose fertile empire is now a desert, 
and whose once formidable name is almost lost 
in the remoteness of past time. 
CONSULT: — 
Pausanias Homer, Sophocles Electra, Euripides Electra, 
Gell’s Topography of the Morea, 
Leake’s _— Ditto Ditto 
Leake’s Journal in Asia Minor. 
Dodwell’s Tour in Greece, 
Herodotus—-Clio, 
Dr, Clarke’s Travels, 
Dr, Chanaler’s Travels, page 363, 
Cockerell, 
