ETRUSCAN ANTIQUITIES. 329 



in affording information relative to the dress, games, and 

 customs of this lost nation. The tombs contained vases, 

 arms, gold ornaments, &c.: and the rock in which they are 

 excavated is so favorable to the preservation of the body, 

 when the aiy was excluded, that a person who looked through 

 the first hole made by the workmen, saw a body stretched on 

 a bench with its garments in perfect preservation, but from 

 the admission of the air, while he was yet looking, it sunk 

 down, leaving only a picture of dust, of all that had once 

 been there. 



ESTHER. 



How large are these chambers'? 



MRS. F. 



About eighteen feet long by seventeen feet wide, and nine 

 high. The ceiling of one, opened in 182S, was white, orna- 

 mented with red stars. A frieze generally runs round the 

 chambers, on which are painted the games which had been 

 celebrated at the funeral of the deceased. The figures in 

 these tombs are generally well executed, though not with the 

 elegance of Grecian art. It is singular that the men are all 

 colored red, like the Egyptian paintings in the tombs of the 

 Theban kings. Their eyes are very long, their hair is black 

 and bushy, their limbs lank and slender, and the facial line 

 projecting remarkably, so that the outline of their face resem- 

 bles strongly that of the Negro, or of the Ethiopian figures 

 of Egyptian paintings. They wear round their ancles rings 

 as ornaments, and armlets on their arms. Shawls of oriental 

 patterns are also worn by both men and women. 



ESTHER. 



What are the games depicted on the friezes'? 



MRS. F. 



Wrestling, leaping, running, boxing, chariot-races, horse- 

 races, cudgel-playing, and riding at the ring. The tombs at 

 Viterbo, are ornamented in the same manner, and are cut out 

 of the rock; this place and Tarquinii presenting a series of 

 28* 



