MYCENAE. 509 
feet two inches; its breadth, six feet nine CHAP. 
VIII. 
inches ; and its thickness, four feet : and it is 
of one entire mass of stone. The two uprights 
supporting this enormous slab might afford still 
ampler dimensions ; but these are almost buried 
in the soil and rubbish which have accumulated 
below so as to reach nearly to the lintel. Above 
this lintel stands the remarkable piece of sculp- 
ture alluded to by Sophocles 1 and by Pausanias*. 
It therefore requires a distinct examination, and 
a very particular description. The last of 
these authors, in the passage before cited 3 , has 
logical 
called the two animals, there represented, Symbols. 
Lions; but they are evidently Panthers, or 
Tigers; the more appropriate emblems of that 
branch of the Heathen Mythology which was 
peculiarly venerated by the inhabitants of 
Mycente*. This piece of sculpture is, as before 
stated, an alto-relievo of a triangular form ; the 
base of the triangle resting upon the lintel of 
the gate ; and its top pointing upwards, in such 
a manner, that a perpendicular line bisecting 
(1) Vid. Sophocl. Elect, v. 1391. 
(2) Vid. Pausan. in Cirinth. c. 16. p. 146. ed. Kuhnii. 
(3) Ibid. See the words of Pausanias in a former Note. 
(4) Vid. Sopkocl. Elect, passim. 
