Ancient art and its remains, or, A manual of the archaeology of art / By C.O. Müller.

  • Karl Otfried Müller
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Ancient art and its remains, or, A manual of the archaeology of art / By C.O. Müller. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    166/664
    in earlier times, afterwards disappear among the Oscan and Sabellian races (from whom the Romans themselves were sprung), and the native peoples of Central and Lower Italy lose 2 almost all significance for the history of art. On the other hand, Northern Italy, as far down as the Tiber, was overspread by the Etruscans or Rasenians, a race which, judging from the evi- dence of the language, was originally very foreign to the Gre- cian, but nevertheless had adopted more of the Hellenic civi- lization and art than any other race not of the Greek family, 3 in those early times. The principal reason is probably fur- nished by the colony of the Pelasgo-Tyrrhenians which was driven from Southern Lydia (Torrhebis), and established it- self chiefly around Caere (Agylla) and Tarquinii (Tarchonion). The latter city maintained for a while the dignity of a lead- ing member among the confederate cities of Etruria, and always remained the chief point from which Greek civiliza- tion radiated over the rest of the country. [Connexion with 4 Corinth about 01. 30. §. 75.] However, the Etruscans received much that was Hellenic from intercourse -with the Lower Italian colonies, especially after they settled at Vulturnum (Capua) and Nola, as well as in later times by their trade with Phocaea and Corinth. An extract from the views unfolded by the author in the Introduction to his work on the Etruscans. With Niebuhr these Pelasgo-Tyrrheniana are aboriginal Siceli; with others (such as Raoul-Rochette) the Etrus- cans were altogether a Pelasgian tribe. 1 168. The Etruscans, then, appear in general as an indus- trious people (fiXoTBxvov 'sbvog), of a bold and_ lofty spirit of enterprise, which was greatly favoured by their priestly aris- 2 tocratic constitution. Massive walls, mostly of irregular blocks, surround their cities (not merely their acropoleis); 3 the art of protecting the country from inundations by the construction of canals, and outlets from lakes, was very zea- 4 lously practised by them. For the purpose of draining the low marshy ground and carrying away the filth, the Tarquin- ian princes built the Cloacae at Rome, particularly the Cloaca Maxima for the Forum: enormous works in which, even before Deraocritus (§. 107), the art of arching by means of cuneiform stones was employed in a quite efi'ectual and ex- cellent manner. The Italian construction of houses with a principal room in the middle to which the drop from the sur- rounding roof was directed, was also derived from the Etrus- 6 cans, or at least received from them an established form In the laying out of cities and camps, as well as in all kinds ot de- marcation, there was displayed a feeling for regular and mvan- able forms which was strengthened by the disciphna Mrusca.