ETRUSCAN ROOM—MEDAL ROOM. 
171 
ETRUSCAN ROOM. 
In this Room is a collection of vases discovered in Italy, and 
known by the name of Etruscan, Graeco- Italian or painted Vases. 
They are of various epochs and styles. 
The present collection is arranged chronologically and according 
to the localities in which they were found. In the first Case on 
the North side are vases of heavy black ware, some with figures upon 
them in bas-relief, the w r ork of the ancient Etruscans, and princi¬ 
pally found at Cervetri or Caere, the ancient Agylla. To these suc¬ 
ceed, in the first Case beyond the door on the East side, the Vases, 
called Nolan-^Egyptian or Phoenician, w 7 ith pale backgrounds and 
figures in a deep reddish maroon colour, chiefly of animals. To these 
succeed the early vases with black figures upon red or orange back¬ 
grounds, the subjects of which are generally mythological, and 
among them the most remarkable are a vase from the vicinity of 
Capua, with a boar hunt, and one with the death of Priam at the altar 
of the Hercean Jupiter. These vases are principally from Vulci, 
Canino, and the Ponte della Badia, to the north of Rome. In the 
central Case are the larger vases, and among them five Panathenaic 
ones, supposed to have been given in the games of the Panathenaia, 
inscribed “ a prize from Athens,” and on one from Athens, of paler 
colour, “ I am a prize from Athens.” Beyond the central cases on 
the left are some vases of the same style, one with Penthesilea killed 
by Achilles, with the names of the possessor and maker. The vases in 
the end cases of this side, executed with more care and finish, are 
principally from Canino and Nola. Those on the South and West 
sides of the room, commencing from the door at the lower end, 
are of the later style of these objects, and chiefly from the pro¬ 
vince of the Basilicata, wEich lies to the south of Rome; their subjects 
are principally relative to Bacchus. Among them will be found some 
mythological subjects, some rhytons or drinking cups fashioned in the 
shape of the heads of animals. Along the other cases are vases from 
Apulia, resembling in their colour and treatment those of Nola. The 
larger vases in the centre are also of this class, and a little to the left of 
the centre of the case is a celebrated vase of the style of Ruvo, from 
the collection of Sir W. Hamilton, representing Castor and Pollux 
carrying off the daughters of Leucippus, and the Hesperides. The other 
cases contain the black -ware of the vases of this class, and the end case 
on the right hand is filled with terracottas, principally of Etruscan work¬ 
manship. Those in the upper row consist chiefly of individual por¬ 
traits, and in the centre are various divinities and mythological groups. 
MEDAL ROOM. 
At the farther end of the Tenth Room is the Medal Room, where 
are deposited a large collection of Coins and Medals, the basis of which 
was formed by the cabinets of Sir Hans Sloane and Sir Robert Cotton, 
and which has been from time to time enlarged by many valuable pur¬ 
chases and donations, but principally by the munificent donation of 
