M Y C E N J&. 507 
instead of being empty, as in the former CHAP. 
^ J vain, 
instances, it is entirely filled by an enormous alto- >. .... ,/ 
relievo, upon a stone block of a triangular form ; 
exhibiting two Lions, or rather Panthers, standing Leonine 
like the supporters of a modern coat of arms. 
This is the identical piece of sculpture noticed 
by Pausanias as being over the gate of the 
Citadel 2 . But the mention he has made of it 
does not appear to have been the only instance 
where this curious specimen of the sculpture of 
the heroic ages is noticed by antient writers. 
The allusions to a real scene in the Electra of 
Sophocles have been recently stated ; and while 
we now shew that the same drama has also 
preserved the record of a very curious super- 
stition, it will likewise appear that this re- 
markable monument of the antient mythology 
of MyceniE did not escape his notice. Orestes, 
before entering the Citadel, speaks of worship- 
ping the statutes of the Gods of the country 
which are stationed in the Propyl&a*. The 
antient custom of consecrating gates, by placing 
(2) AtArtrtM S 'o'ftas in *" aXA raw vi^ifr'nXta, xai ri vv\ti' AEONTES 
J i^(rT>j*a'< air/J. 1'aiisan. Corinth, c. 16. p. 146. ed. Kuhnii. 
Qiuv, oftiirtp xoe*f\j\u. ttleufit TKdt 
Sojiltocl. Elect, v. 1391. torn. I. p. 323. Par. 178K 
