MANNER OF PAINTING THEM. 323 



MRS. F. 



From what we can learn, it appears that they were fre- 

 quently used in sacrifices and other religious ceremonies; 

 they were given as prizes to the victors in the games, and 

 wer6 also kept for ornament, or appropriated to domestic 

 purposes. The piety of the relatives led them, perhaps to 

 decorate the tombs of their departed friends with the vases 

 which they most valued during their lives, or which were 

 most associated with their memory. 



ESTHER. 



In what state are these sepulchres generally found? 



MRS. F. 



Some have no earth whatever in them, except the small 

 quantity which the ancients sprinkled over the body, at the 

 time of interment. Other tombs are quite filled up with 

 mould, either from the roof having given way, or from the 

 excavations of the Romans, who sought the Italo-Greek 

 tombs with great avidity, for the painted vases which they 

 contain, and which, even at that period, were valued for their 

 beauty and antiquity. In the time of Julius Caesar, some 

 Greek sepulchres were found at Capua when that city became 

 a Roman colony; and, after ransacking them of their contents, 

 the earth was thrown into the tombs, which also were some- 

 times used by the Romans as places of sepulchre for them- 



ESTHER. 



How were the ancient vases painted? 



MRS. F. 



The Italo-Greek vases are all of fine red pottery varnished; 

 and the figures upon them are either painted in black upon 

 the natural red ground of the vase; or the vase is grounded 

 in black, and the figures left red (the draperies and features 

 being traced out in black). The first description of vase is 

 the most esteemed; and, as far as can be inferred from minute 



