330 ETRUSCAN ANTIQUITIES. 



tombs which can only be compared, in number and extent, 

 with those in the valley of the kings, in Egypt. When I 

 was in the Val di Chiana, in the vicinity of Chiusi, (the 

 ancient Clusium,) we visited an Etruscan tomb,* which had 

 been discovered when sinking a well, the workmen having 

 come to the stones of the roof, by which they entered into 

 the sepulchre, which is built of uncemented blocks of traver- 

 tine; the doors consist of two large stones, with circular pro- 

 jections at the top and bottom, which fit into corresponding 

 holes in the framework of the door, and thus form the hinges. 

 The sepulchre originally contained eight sarcophagi, all of 

 men. The subjects of the bas reliefs upon them are hippo- 

 campi, medusas, a bacchante on a leopard, &e. The stone of 

 which the sarcophagi are made is very sonorous. 



ESTHER. 

 Did you visit Clusium] 



MRS. F. 



We did so; and although there are no remains of the cele- 

 brated mausoleum of Porcenna, there is much to interest in 

 Etruscan antiquities.Vases of every description, from the black 

 pottery to the highly finished painted vases; but that which 

 interested me the most was the different collections of Etrus- 

 can scarabei, which are found in the fields when ploughed, or 

 after heavy rains. They are mostly on cornelian, and are per- 

 forated in their longest diameter. From some having been found 

 mounted as rings, it would appear that they were destined for 

 this use; probably as signets. The Etruscans were celebrated 

 for their engraving upon stones both of cameos and intaglios, 

 as they were also for their works in terra cotta, in brass, gold, 

 &c. At Athens, the metal cups and vases of Etruscan work- 

 manship were highly prized. 



HENRIETTA. 



What was their money] 



* Sepolcrete della Paccianese, discovered in 1820-21. 





