A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume 1 (of 2)

by A. H. Smith

Red marble. Height, 1 foot 4¼ inches; width, 3 feet 2¾ inches. Stuart, 2nd ed., IV., pl. 4, fig. 10; p. 32; cf. pl. 5; Dodwell, Tour, II., p. 232; Murray, I., p. 38; Wolters, No. 3.

2.Fragment from the 'Treasury of Atreus' at Mycenae. The decoration consists of a band of the wave pattern, and a band of lozenges in low relief, the bands being separated by mouldings of similar character to those of No. 1. The saw and chisel were used by the artist.

This slab, according to Donaldson, formed a part of the architrave, over the entrance to the building. According to Dodwell, it was 'found by the excavators of the Earl of Elgin, near the Treasury of Atreus.'—Elgin Coll.

Hard green limestone; height, 1 foot 6 inches; width, 3 feet 6 inches. Stuart, 2nd ed., IV., pl. 4, fig. 9; cf. pl. 5; Dodwell, Tour, II., p. 232; Murray, I., p. 39; Wolters, No. 2.

Fig. 1.—Restored Capital from the 'Treasury of Atreus' (after Puchstein).

3.Fragment from the 'Treasury of Atreus' at Mycenae. This fragment, which is decorated with a portion of a wave pattern enclosed by two mouldings meeting at an acute angle, is a part of one of the columns that flanked the entrance to the building. These columns were decorated with an elaborate system of ornament, composed of zigzag bands of the wave pattern, best understood on reference to drawings of the complete column (cf. fig. 1). The tubular drill has been used as in No. 1.—Presented by the Institute of British Architects, 1843.

Hard green limestone; height, 11 inches; width, 9 inches. For drawings of the restored column, with its capital (formerly taken for the base) compare Stuart, 2nd ed., IV., pl. 4, figs. 1-5, pl. 5. Dodwell, Tour, II., pl. facing p. 232; Murray, I., p. 40; Puchstein, Das Ionische Capitell, p. 50. For fragments of the capital, see Gell, Itinerary, pl. 7; Mitchell, p. 145, fig. 70.

4.Fragment from the 'Treasury of Atreus' at Mycenae. This is a part of the lower member of the capital of a pilaster flanking the great doorway (cf. fig. 1).—Presented by the Institute of British Architects, 1843.