The Habitations of Man in All Ages

Citation preview

^ieM8>:0F

ALL

IN '^''

V

ii

iV i

i'

i

i

i

'

iii

i^i ir

iiii

i

r

i

\ iii'iVr i>VlV'ii''i

A.GV.y,

'''''

Vi''i

-'

•immtmmmmmmmmmmommmmm'"

"'WMwmr'

:V\/^

-'

-

'

;

I

'

^—

—

^-

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GIFT l^

rom the Estate ol Urie McClearv

lqix)Ljcn

-^r^^l^

/^v:^^^-

^^^..^

^i^C^^

^

x/^

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN IN

ALL AGES.

PKINTED BY BALI.ANTVNK KniNRI'Rr.H

HANSli.N

AND LONIldX

AND

CO.

Typoffraptilr

il*»

>..

Vts^hUztrh

HISTOIUE

LJIABITATION H U M A N E

Dh.

I

F

R

nXT

I

.

lands and pleasant dwellings at

fertile

the foot of the Sacred Mountains, not far from the place

where the great "

Our

fathers

river passes

had been

them

to flow southwards.

settled there for a great

number

But from the mountains and from the great

of years.

plateau which

is

on

this side to the north, there

came down

tribes desirous of enjoying the riches of the soil.

At

first

our fathers received them with pleasure, for they saw in

them brethren who spoke the same language and resembled themselves. At first there was no want of land, and all could have a share.

Fresh

tribes,

however, were always

you know that Mount the great cradle of the noble race. One day we

arriving from the mountains; for

Meron

is

were obliged to

tell

the new-comers that the land was

and they would not be able to southwards their course

in

find a place.

full

Many went

the hope of finding fresh lands; others bent

towards the

rising-

sun.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

ii8

number contend with nations numerous " It

seems that a

Some perhaps went

torrent. less

fjrcat

pebbles of the

the

as

We

further.

were none the

subjected to constant embarrassments

consequence

in

number of tribes that continued to pass over our That was the cause of our disasters. We wanted

of the lands.

compel the mountaineers to follow another

to

We

and

took up arms, and for several seasons we caused our

But at

territory to be respected.

increasing

The

all sides.

witnessed the death of

my

last,

by

dint of ever-

numbers, these mountaineers ended

rounding us on of

route,

enjoyment of our possessions.

to leave us to the peaceful

I

perished, for they had to

my

struggle

father,

was

my

There

terrible.

brother,

sur-

in

and many

kin.

"The

victors then wished to

impose conditions upon us

;

rather than submit to them, having collected our flocks

and herds, and placed the women and children and our most valued property houses,

we

in

waggons, and

we might not encounter on our way

that

set

which had gone towards the

rising

among

to

our

order

that great

body

;

sun or towards the

and that we might not have to blush

south,

fire

and

in

quitted the land of our fathers

for

our defeat

them, we betook ourselves towards the setting sun,

keeping near the mountains." " It

is

" Yes,

died

;

twenty winters, you

say, since then

" .-^

twenty winters, and many of our number have

and children have been born.

In order to find the

means of living along our route we separated and we march at intervals of a year."

into twelve

bodies,

" Will

"

you give

When we

me

had

a

all

full

left

account of your adventures

" .'*

our possessions, our number

being about twenty thousand, including men, women, and children, hills,

we reached

after five or six

moons

a chain of high

which stretch from the Sacred Mountains towards the

THE GREA T MJGRA TIONS. .south.

We

had

lost

many

of our people

1

1

consequence of

\\\

the privations we had to suffer and the want of sufficient

nourishment

for

;

we had nothing

to live

and herds and what we found on our " There

we

resolved to stay and settle

country presented an stocked with "

in

on but our flocks

route.

We

subjugated them.

compelled them to

us,

my

violently.

easily

till

the ground,

We

had already

build houses, and the lands were apportioned

to

when

dared to attack

these wretches

That

they were very strong in numbers. lives in

rivulets.

we had

feeble,

tend our herds, and supply us with food.

among

the

Dasyus swarmed

In this country the cursed race of the

Timorous and

;

was well

it

;

game and watered by numerous

great numbers.

begun

possible

if

appearance

inviting

remembrance. It

was just

.

.

.

at the time

us,

night

fatal

for still

The wind was raging when the snows begin Confused

to disappear from the slopes of the mountains.

cries warned us of the danger, and

fires

soon broke out

Most of us inhabited the higher grounds, enabling us to see to a distance. Our people assembled in the

plain.

small bodies in haste, but the tempest prevented us

in

from hearing each other's voices and acting

Women came

Dasyus, armed with clubs, were killing .setting fire to

dwellings

howling furiously. lost, if

in concert.

running towards us wild with despair

— advancing

Thus suddenly

in

;

the

all

they met, and

a

compact mass,

attacked,

would be

all

the wretches should gain the heights.

Each group

perceived the danger, and without losing time in endea-

vouring to join that near ing "

it

thought only of bravely defend-

itself.

With waggons, unfinished

houses,

they made themselves a rampart

came on

like a

-every quarter

by

;

rocks,

and

trees,

and when the scoundrels

herd of wolves, they were assailed from darts, stones,

and sharp arrows.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN. "

Having no plan of action, and seeing many of their number fall, they recoiled. This enabled those of us who were farthest

enough

from the attack to unite

off

We

to take the offensive.

made

bodies large

in

a great massacre

But advancing day showed us how

of the wretches.

numerous they were for some of the neighbouring had joined those among which we lived. ;

"

We

should

have

been wearied

we had gone on mowing down rushes of the marsh

;

to

no

purpose,

left to

if

these scoundrels like the

the mass was so dense that

always have f(jund some

tribes

We

kill.

we should

therefore retired

to the heights, taking with us our most valuable movables

Having held a council the following we resolved to pass the mountains, and to seek in

our waggons.

in

night,

the direction of the setting sun a less populous territory. "

Having

cut

down

trees to

form a rampart, we

left

behind us a thousand of our warriors, who were to stop the advance of the Dasyus while the retreat was being effected.

" In this passage across the mountains,

number

of horses

and waggons.

died of cold during the

not attempt to pursue

came down wanting. fishing

nights.

us.

At

we

Women

lost a great

and children

But the Dasyus did

the end of eight days

into a desert plain, but

we

where game was not

There we remained several moons,

living

and hunting and on what remained of our

by

cattle.

It was then that we resolved to pursue our search for homes towards the west taking care to go in separate bodies, so as not to exhaust the country, and that we might ;

always find game.

"What more flanks rivulets

we

of the

need

I

say

mountains,

or torrents narrow

also found wood,

so

.^

Keeping always on the we might meet only

that

enough

to be easily crossed,,

game, and sometimes

shelter in the

THE GREAT MIGRATIONS. forests.

Stopping where

was most tolerable we reached

life

this place."

"

And

did

many

"

We

"

Do you know

"

other detachments pass before you

form part of the

.''

last."

whether those who went before you

have taken- up a fixed residence.''" " They have done so for we have always kept up ;

by

a communication between the different detachments

messengers who travel several together." "

And what

have you learned by these means

.'

That our predecessors have settled in a fertile country, rivers, and bordered by two chains, of mountains, seven days' march apart, and both stretching towards the setting sun. On the northern side, beyond "

watered by numerous

one of these chains of mountains, water which

is

also great

our brethren have settled and have built houses."

"And "

There are

Near the mountains, on the southern

lakes of fresh water. side,

a vast extent of salt

is

the end of the earth.

men

did your brethren find

They found men with a dark

in these

skin,

countries?"

but they drove them,

away." "

And what

were the occupations of these men

"

They kept

flocks

skins of beasts.

reported to "

We

and herds and

This

is

made

of

travelling messengers

us,

are eager to reach that land where our brethren

by

are happy, surrounded families,

possessors

come from the south

man

men is

power over the accursed

numerous and prosperous

domains.

We

of the north,

to spoil

of noble race

the earth."

their

of vast

with them against the

the

lived in tents

what the

" }

them

shall

and those

of their goods

fight

who ;

for

born to fight to establish his races,

and

to be the master

of

CHAPTER

XII.

THE EARLIEST DWELLINGS OF THE ARYAS SETTLED IN UPPER MEDIA WERE CONSTRUCTED.

//OIK

THESE emigrants who

had made

and had

valley of Cashmere,

their

way from

the

on the

settled at first

upper course of the Indus, were thus slowly traversing the southern slopes of the long chain of mountains which

Mount Merou

stretches from

had

settled there in

a

They

to the Caspian Sea.

country, sheltered from

fertile

the

north wind by the Caspian Mountains, and from the south

wind by Mount Zagrus

—the

chain

bearing

being parallel to the Caspian Mountains. their custom

into tribes, they

had

that

name

Divided as

built small

towns,

between whose houses were spaces reserved

tillage

and pasture.

elevated position and

somewhat

:

is

crossed

cold in the winter season,

some

of

by mountains, though is

very hot

who kept

summer. in

this

living in caverns, hollowed

out by natural causes or laboriously excavated hills,

in

races already settled

them were

pied the slopes of the

for

This country, which occupies an

The emigrants had found country

is

straggling

and were black

to the plains, lived in tents,

;

;

they occuthe others,

were nomad

in their

and possessed numerous flocks and herds on which they subsisted. These had a yellow skin with hair and habits,

eyes black

no

;

they were daring and predatory, and followed

industrial pursuits.

Not being accustomed fight,

to

assemble

in large

numbers

to

they retired gradually before the Aryan emigrants in

EARL Y MEDIAN D WELLINGS OF AR YAS.

1

23

a northerly and westerly direction, not without having done

damage to the new settlers. The Aryas, therefore, soon found themselves isolated and In these regions obliged to provide for their own wants. they had no longer around them, as on the Upper Indus, a

all possible

whom

numerous and submissive native population

The

could compel to work. district before

this

them, had neither

cities

nor villages,

followed no industrial occupation, and despised labour.

they

pastoral race that occupied

all

manual

Proud and barbarous, and continually changing

the place of their abode,

it

was impossible either

to sub-

jugate or to plunder them, since they possessed nothing

but wandering herds.

As

to the black inhabitants of the mountains,

an abject in

any case unable

the will to do

number and

to assist the colonists, even

The

so.

they were

by the chase and on wild

race, subsisting

latter,

moreover,

still

herbs,

had they

too small in

too ignorant of the country, dared not risk

themselves in the mountain defiles occupied by the blacks.

Those of the Aryas who had attempted to penetrate into the gorges of the Zagrus range had not returned. I"or some time the Aryas were satisfied to live in huts such as had been their dwellings in the desert; but these habitations did not preserve

were

liable

to be

unfrequently

arose

them from heat

or cold, and

destroyed by the tempests that not

between the

two mountain

chains.

They wished therefore to erect houses like those of their fathers, wood being abundant. These dwellings, however, in

a country where extremes of temperature

prevailed,

scarcely sheltered their inhabitants better either against frost

or sun.

They had observed

lived nearest the valleys

could carry on barter constructed

for

—

— the

in

that the

blacks

who

only race with

whom

they

had by hollow-

default of natural caverns

themselves

actual

burrows,

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

124

ing out the ground, and raising round the ditch a wall of

and mud, placing across these very low walls

pebbles

trunks of trees covered with

layer of kneaded

a thick

earth.

These dwellings which were cool in summer and warm but always damp, low, and noisome, could not

in winter,

approve themselves to the Aryas

;

but reflecting that the

nearly equal temperature of these sordid abodes at

seasons of the year was owing

in

all

great part to the thick

layer of earth which served as roofing, they resolved to

employ the same method, though with

interiors not

below

the level of the ground.

Blows with a

stick,

and the prospect of a regular supply

number of the blacks to new dwellings of the Aryas. But the first attempts were not successful. The walls of mud and pebbles which, when scarcely so high as a man, would of food, induced a considerable

labour

in

building the

support the transverse trunks of trees that formed the ceiling,

raise

gave way under the load when

them

higher.

it

was attempted to

Moreover, the settlers wished to have

spacious rooms, and the mass of earth superposed

beams bend, rendering props these new dwellings presented, the

On

necessary.

made

the whole

in spite of the exertions

of the colonists, a very singular series of tentative efforts

when

caravan

of emigrants

Upper

the

last

first

thing to be done was to allot lands to the new-

arrived

in

Media.

The comers

whom Epergos

certain

degree of authority

had joined.

had acquired a

lie

among them,

for

on several

occasions the emigrants had had reason to congratulate

themselves on having adopted his suggestions. therefore, consulted as to

the

erecting houses with the materials at hand,

meet the requirements of the

He

was,

most suitable method of climate.

and so as to

Epergos remem-

EARL Y MEDIAN D WELLING S OF AR YAS.

1

25

bering the methods he had seen adopted on the Lower Nile,

and considering that the countr\' possessed wood

in

abundance, and that the Aryas had long been accustomed

employ sulted him to

material, spoke thus to those

this :

"

As

}-ou recognise the

who

con-

advantage of employ-

ing earth, both for raising walls and covering the ceilings of

your dwellings, to preserve you from cold and heat, while

you perceive that an support, because itself

—why do

erection

only substantial enough to

;

—

trees, so

with earth needs a

you not make a skeleton of timber, not resist

keep up the earthen walls and

rooms

made

has not consistence enough to sustain

it

well, then,

the storms, but also to

ceilings

?

You want

large

prop up the ceilings with trunks of

that the}' will not bend under the load.

In a

make a house of wood and cover it with earth." They set to work, therefore, and soon obtained satisfactory structures. The following is a description of one word,

of these houses, figure 42.

Conformably

Plan of Median House.

to the

custom of

Fig. 42.

the Aryas, the habitation being placed on an elevated spot, or on a raised platform,

commanded

a view of the vicinity.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

126

A

room A was

large

set out,

and

to

support

its

heavy

trunks of trees forked at the top divided

ceiling, eight

Adjoining

into three bays.

this

was a passage

B,

it

communi-

cating with six chambers, and at the end a small sanctuary; for as the

Aryas had then temples and

priests, the religious

ceremonies were no longer performed

At D

a small court with

Interior uf

a kitchen

K,

a portico

terrace of the

A

flight of

every family. with

Median House. — Km

and the room

dependants.

in

\\ co'>^'i-""i''r>t-;"'^

s allotted to the servants

wooden

main building.

or

steps gave access to the

As

indicated in the plan,

the buildings were constructed with trunks of trees, placed vertically in double threes, leaving the thickness of a wall

EARL V MEDIAN D WELLING S OE AR YAS.

127

These posts

of earth between them, and of forked posts.

received on their fork (see figure 43, which represents the interior of the large room), a

end

On

split into two.

cap consisting of a thick trunk

each of these caps were laid three

horizontal trunks of trees, which were supported at their

ends by the three interior and the three exterior vertical

Next, on these cross timbers were placed other

trunks.

trunks longitudinally forming a ceiling within and a projection without, to protect the walls from the rain.

the whole building being raised in wood, they intervals with pebbles

and

earth,

and on the

Thus

filled

the

ceiling placed

a thick layer of earth and stubble well kneaded, and then of moistened clay and fine sand.

mats covered

Inside,

the floor of beaten earth.

Figure 44 gives a view of this habitation in perspective. During summer they put up tents on the terraces to enjoy the fresh air of the evening and

also to sleep there

method suggested by the habit acquired by the during their long sojourn in the desert, of passing nights under the tent, and in shutting

by

their feeling

a

;

colonists all their

uncomfortable

themselves up to sleep during the hot season.

Half a century

Upper Media,

after their settlement in

Aryas had attained a condition of prosperity, had become very numerous, and had begun to give some degree of elegance to their dwellings by dressing the wood with an axe and adorning the walls with paintings.

the

They were acquainted woollen

stuffs

with

the

art

of

manufacturing

variously dyed, and began to give them-

they had succeeded

selves

to culture

many

of the black inhabitants of the mountains,

defiles

;

for

in

enslaving

whose

were henceforth known to them, and used

for

hunting grounds. Several of their

number during the great expeditions

undertaken with a view to hunt wild animals and horses

THE HABITATIONS OF ATAN.

128

(of which there were

numbers

at large in the country),

had

sometimes crossed the Zagrus chain, and had observed

beyond

it

an immense and rich plain inhabited only by

who possessed large flocks. These Median who went out in large bodies, had sometimes even

shepherds hunters,

succeeded

in

carrying off

some

of these flocks

\

^^->.:

Medes

so that

..k-

%A^.^-'

•

the

;

"^- |(P> ^/:^v^tN^"v>-V;.^"fc:

nearest the mountains began to assemble in

considerable troops, and traversing the defiles, would

suddenly on the shepherds, and drive off the

cattle,

fall

which

they sold as soon as they returned to Media.

These repeated expeditions

irritated the shepherds,

and

EARL V MEDIAN D WELLINGS OF ARYAS.

129

having concerted a place of ambuscade, they attacked and

massacred a large body of hunters.

ment through

all

Media, and

it

Great was the excite-

was resolved

to take ven-

geance on the shepherds.

To

the

number of about

four thousand men, the

issued from the southern mountains,

the level country, carried off a considerable cattle,

and

The

killed all

the

fell

defiles,

their

turn,

passed

the

suddenly on the lands of the Medes killed

houses, and plundered the

women, whom they

number of

offered resistance.

shepherds, assembling in

mountains, and nearest

who

Medes

and spread through

carried

the inhabitants, fields.

burned

They spared only

away with

then).

the

the

CHAPTER

XIII.

THE NOMADIC AND THE STATIONARY SEMITES.

'TPALL

^

and

lean, with skin of bistre tint, slender limbs

and black

hair, the

Semites form that large pastoral

population which occupies Tigris

all

by the

the territory watered

They

and Euphrates.

live in tents,

and

cultivate

a few fields, sometimes at one spot, sometimes at another

accustomed to tarry

for the}' are not

They have

habits, their flocks sistence, dress,

made

and dwellings,

companion

;

for

— which are only tents of horse

they never travel on

foot.

them

go

to

pastures, or destro}'s their cattle.

large

bodies,

and

fall

is

in

stuffs

their faithful

They take

Sometimes the

wives as they can support.

place.

in their

suffice for their sub-

The

of the season obliges

same

Temperate

and scanty crops

of camels' hair and wool.

many

long- in the

neither cities nor villages.

search

as

dr}-ness

of distant

Then they assemble

in

upon the neighbouring country,

where they hope to find booty. harassed the peoples of the

Thus they have

Lower

Nile, for they

often

do not

hesitate to traverse the desert in search of plunder.

They maybe vanquished, but they cannot be since they are not attached to the

The

desert

is

theirs,

and

inhabited region, they drive

and turn

it

into a desert.

suits or arts,

address and

the}'

if

soil,

pursuit.

take possession of an

away or kill its inhabitants, They have no industrial pur-

though on occasions they

skill

subjugated,

and elude

than probity.

traffic

with more

Nevertheless, they practise

NOMADIC AND STA TIONAR Y SEMITES. and the stranger who

hospitality,

has nothing to

As

3

among them

he has no property.

fear, especially if

regards the stationary

admitted

is

1

they occupy the

Semites,

western region between the shores of the interior sea and

They engage

the right bank of the Upper Euphrates.

commerce and and

in certain

industrial

The

to distant lands.

sail

pursuits,

districts

have

in

ports,

they inhabit are

mountainous, dry, and arid

;

the year on which rain

and the torrents which descend

falls,

there are only sixty days in

from the mountains are quickly dried up. however,

is

cultivated

;

The

country,

for the inhabitants construct vast

tanks which receive water during the rainy season, and enable them to irrigate the ground.

Contrary to

Aryan custom,

the

their houses

are in

groups, and form cities or straggling towns surrounded walls to protect

them against the

Semites and the

men

incursions of the

of yellow race,

by nomadic

who sometimes make

an onslaught from the north.

They

also construct large ves-

sels, in

which they cross the

sea,

and carry on commerce along

On

the shores of the Delta.

the

south,

country

their

bounded by the extends

desert,

nearly

is

and

Lower

to

mj

Egypt.

The in

following

is

the

Bi

method

which they usually build

their

dwellings,

Around an area

figure

45. Plan of Primitive Southern Syrian Habita-

of

25 to 30

tipn.

Fig. 45.

cubits they build a thick wall of pise or dry stones, leaving

a void space in front, and forming a quadrangular space of

about 8 cubits on the opposite in the interior,

side.

Along

this wall,

they raise a platform of about 4 cubits

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

132

wide and two cubits

in

end the platform

little

is

a

At

at most.

iicic^ht

Small

higher.

the further

flights of steps

Only the recess a permanent way by means of

facilitate the ascent to these platforms.

at the

back

is

covered

in

trunks of palm-trees or cypress placed close together, on

which a

floor is

made

of kneaded earth.

It

is

there that

the family sleep at night, and shelter themselves by day

from the sun.

During the rainy season

light

frames of canes are erected,

on which mats are placed.

On

these platforms troughs

structed, in

of pise (at

which provisions are kept B.

the open side, and the entrance C

trunk placed across

end a cistern

is

it.

is

is

are

con-

circular

lighted in the

hedge protects

by a thorny

closed

Under the platform

excavated, to which there

the small flight of steps

A)

and a small

A fire for cooking. A thorn

fowl-house also of pise at

middle of the area

;

is

at the

back

a descent

by

F.

Figure 46 gives a view of these dwellings, which sometimes have very small gardens in front. possess larger dwellings, but which are

the same principle.

all

Rich families constructed on

In these, rich stuffs sometimes take

the place of mats, and woollen carpets cover the floor of the recess. Paintings on coatings of earth garnish the walls, and in place of a hedge are placed strong barriers of painted artistically

No

worked.

wood

Curtains shut in the recess.

great length of time had elapsed since the earliest

Medes into the territory of the Semites,, when fresh bodies of Aryan emigrants advanced along Land in sufficient quantity was the Caspian mountains. expeditions of the

no longer to be found, and the new-comers were not received as brothers, but as troublesome strangers. last in the field,

The

however, were not disposed to retrograde,.

NOMADIC AND STATIONARY SEMITES.

133

and saw with envious eyes the prosperous establishments of their predecessors.

This occasioned frequent contests

;

and as fortune favoured sometimes one party and sometimes the other, and peace was incessantly troubled without any advantage to either,

the

chiefs

of

the tribes

assembled, and came to the determination that since the

5^ View of Primitive Southern Syrian House. — Fig.

territory of

46.

Upper Media could not support

families, a great expedition

so

many

should be organised, to occupy

the lands on the south-east, beyond the mountains, and to drive

away the shepherds,

their depredations.

since they

had always

to dread

134

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

But on descending towards the south, on the shores of the Tigris and the Euphrates, longer nomadic peoples, but

the emigrants found no

cities

and

villages.

During a

long course of years the emigrants from Media had to carry on a struggle with the peoples settled on the fertile

shores of these two rivers, but at last they subjugated them,,

and were blended into one nation with them.

CHAPTER

XIV.

THE ASSYRIANS.

ALONG

time afterwards, the country watered by the

Tigris and Euphrates formed the rich and powerful kingdoms of Assyria and Babylon. They were conquered by Thoutmes III., a king of the eighteenth Egyptian

dynasty; but

this

conquest only brought into that country

elements of civilisation and to render

The

art,

which were

still

wanting

the queen of Western Asia,

it

Assyrians, however, did

querors without struggles

;

not submit to the con-

formed a league

and, having

with the other peoples of Asia, they ultimately enfran-

Ramses

chised themselves from Egyptian rule under

and Ramses

IT.

Soon afterwards they subjugated Media,

III.

their parent state. Till the like their

epoch of Egyptian supremacy, the Assyrians, neighbours the Medes, erected only very simple

They made

buildings, destitute of ornamentation.

make

principle not to

but

divinities;

necessitated

the

certain

it

a

sculptured representations of the

country which modifications

they occupied had in

the

structure

ot

their habitations.

The

shores of the Tigris and Euphrates present only

alluvial plains

ten

;

wood, suitable for building,

months of the

clearness

is

year,

no cloud appears

incomparable.

The

heat

is

in

is

rare.

For

a sky whose

oppressive and

incessant.

With

their taste for the arts, the

Egyptians had intro-

1

THE HA BITA TIONS OF MAN.

36

duced into these regions cal

knowledge, a

astronomical and geometri-

tlieir

some degree of

civilisation of

refinement,-

and an exact and rigorous administrative organisation. If

the

at

same time

the

Tigris

and

profit b}^ these advantages,

they

on

populations

Euphrates were able to

the

The

simple habits

families of

Aryan

origin

however, of preserving the purity of their

a point,

and were

blood,

of

those austere and

lost

which they once possessed.

made

shores

the

form alliances with the

unwilling to

subjugated natives.

Convinced of the superiority of the

Aryan

families

these

race,

an aristocratic

constituted

and, considering the smallness of their numbers compared with the subject people, they made it their object to become predominant, not only in intelligence and bravery, but also numerically. With this view, the caste

;

as

superior caste adopted polygamy, and rare

thing

to

find

in

surrounded by a hundred

means of

was, in

it

Assyria persons of or more.

children

the dominant

of

Semitic

maidens

were

sup.erior

In

race.

and

beautiful,

many

entered the harems of the Assyrian nobles generations,

the

considerably interfused.

With a

genius.

moderate aptitude

;

for

for

the

fact,

them

of

so that after

power

the

;

They

are

but they have only a

practice

of the

plastic

arts.

Semites, on the other hand, inclined to simple ideas,

contemplative,

adventurous,

special aptitude for all that

are

vidually;

with

this

they combine a passionate

poetic taste

brave, and ambitious

They

But

Aryan and Semitic blood were The Aryas possess an exalted

devotion to the study of natural phenomena.

The

no

increase impaired rather than strengthened the

prestige

some

fact,

noble race

commercial as a for

they do

a view to

not

and is

independent,

have

a

connected with calculation.

race,

and industrious

readily

form

a collective undertaking

;

indi-

combinations

they

are,

it

THE ASSYRIANS. must

also be observed,

contempt

artists,

and have a kind of

devote themselves to a manual

for those \\'ho

The

art.

not

137

two

alliance of the

always pro-

races, however,

duces the elements which are most favourable to the

development of the

plastic arts.

Epergos began to communicate head to Epergos,

Assyria,

into

who had

seen

Aryas, from the time race

till

on

this

companion Doxius, who had come with the

his

Egyptians

his observations

and

settled

the buildings

the\-

their settlement in

quitted

this

in

erected

country.

by the

the cradle of their

Media, had assured himself

that these works were far from having attained the value, in

point of

art,

by the Egyptians, or even same lapse of

of those raised

the yellow race of the far East, during the

He had

time.

also seen the buildings of the Semites on

reaching the banks of the Tigris, and during a journey he had made on the shores of the inland sea. He perceived,

men of this race did many centuries, and had

therefore, that the dwellings of the

not vary during the course of

no pretensions to

art.

Egyptians had made ture

of the

effected

two

by the

But since the influence of the

itself felt

in Assyria,

races,

Aryan and

force

of

Semitic,

circumstances,

began to attain a rare perfection, and with sculptures and paintings

was daily Doxius was

ings

and the mix-

;

to

was being

the buildings

be enriched

the luxury of their dwell-

increasing. listening to his companion's

remarks and

allowing him to go on, appearing to be thinking of some-

thing

else.

—

Epergos continued thus " Whence I should conclude that if the Egyptians have special aptitudes for the arts, :

it is

because they are the product of a mixture of Aryan

and Semitic

blood." Doxius looked at him sulkily. "And," continued Epergos, unmoved by this expression

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

138

of disapproval,

"

did \vc not see in

Egypt men and women

ruddy cheeks, and chestnut

of a fine complexion,

hair,

thus distinguishinfj them from the majority of their compatriots,

whose skin

these

that

Doxius

is

black as ebony

belonged

exceptions

shrugged

dingy and slightly copper-

of a

is

coloured hue, and whose hair

resumed Epergos, smiling

his

at

the higher caste,"

to

"A

shoulders.

his

Observe

?

strange

companion's

thing,"

gesture

"these Aryas readily change their opinions; they are as variable as the waves, incessantly in quest of novelties,

and tenacious faithful

in their desires

they

themselves,

;

nevertheless,

when

left

to the traditions

bequeathed by

their ancestors

The

regard to what concerns their domestic habits.

in

to

to-day as they did yesterday,

build

Semites, on the other hand, have no regard for progress,

they do not expect

little,

and

in

own

cither from their

it

from the lapse of time

;

efforts,

or

external things affect them but

the buildings they erect for their convenience,

they seek neither improvement nor change but when these ;

races are mingled, the race that

possessed by a passion for luxury, rated,

and contribute to

refinements, of

all

the pleasures, and even the this arise

wonder, causes these mysterious results "

Some

men

as

if

.-'

Who,

I

" ?

Eoolish thou hast been, foolish thou

art,

and

foolish

Thou speakest ot races among men.

"

thou wilt always be," replied Doxius. races of

is

houses are deco-

its

Whence does

life.

from the fusion

issues

there were different

are black, others white, others copper-coloured

;

what

has been the cause of these differences? Climate, the sun,

perhaps deterioration.

I

make no

except that of wise and unwise. like

my friends the

distinction

The

between men,

wise are those who,

Egyptians, hold fast for ages to the good

and serviceable which they have discovered, and interdict fools from changing anything in it. The unwise are those

THE ASSYRIANS. who, incessantly changing,

restless,

and agitated, abandon

the good to seek for the better, and to

And as

139

into the worse.

fall

thou fanciest that by mingling what thou considerest elements, such

different

follows

What

?

are governed

and

folly

by wise men

tranquillity,

Nations that

!

maintain themselves

in

purity

whatever be the colour of their skin.

Those who allow themselves spirits,

such a result inevitably

or

what blasphemy

!

and who, with

by thoughtless

to be guided

always fixed on the hazy

their eyes

what is just at their feet, are wretched, and advance only from one form of ruin to another. It is horizon, do not see

therefore to be wished that thou mayest never be called to

govern mankind "

" !

Canst thou never discuss a question without using this

strong language

and see

?

Answer my

this royal villa

just completing here, it

come workmen are

questions, or rather

which thousands of

and say

thou dost not perceive

if

the result of a prodigious effort, and at the

mixture of dissimilar elements, contrived, nevertheless, a

way which betokens

calls neither the

artistic

power

in

same time a in

— something which re-

Egyptian palaces nor the modest Median

dwellings, though related to both." " I

have

shall perceive that the inhabitants of this country

profited

by the

instructions

them by the

given

Egyptians," "

No,

it is

something

different

but come

:

" !

The companions soon reached a wide square platform^ surmounted by buildings which did not present a symmetrical appearance, but whose

by

arched gateways.

lofty walls

Epergos

the architect of the royal

villa,

were giving the finishing strokes.

were pierced

was acquainted with to which the workmen This architect, anxious

no doubt to secure the approbation of the two strangers^ offered to

show them every part

of this splendid dwelling.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

I40

"This platform, which forms the (said the architect, while they "

steps on the south),

basis of the royal villa,"

were ascending the

and which

than twenty cubits above the banks of the entirely of unburnt bricks

;

its

flight of

a height of more

rises to

facing only

is

river, is built

made

of stone,

from the mountains that separate Assyria from Media.

Each

of

You

see

sides measures three

its

hundred and forty

cubits.

planes which enable

here at AA' the inclined

chariots to be driven even to the doors." " But,"

why this custom of men of "

remarked Epergos,

"Because

it is

the

their dwellings on elevated places

platform

noble race to build

may

it

;

" }

well be ima-

gined, therefore, that the king insists upon his palaces being

placed

in

commanding

a

the nobles raise "

How is

it

hills

This

is

it

supports

our method of proceeding

below the bed of the its fertility,

—There

the plain, and

in

rivers.

we dig

:

To

a great

" .''

is,

it is

you are

as

found even

irrigate the land,

number

and

to

of canals which

communication between the two

establish a

is flat,

of clay to build their houses upon."

aware, abundance of clay

secure

the country

that this enormous mass of clay has not sunk

under the weight of the buildings "

As

situation.

It is

rivers.

the clay taken from these canals that serves for buildings, so that the erection of a vast palace country, for

some

it

of the

is

a benefit to the

necessitates the digging of a canal.

workmen

others are ready to receive, and carefully beat basins

;

material

While

get clay out of the excavations, it

in large

then, being approved by the royal surveyors, this is

compressed

thrown into in these

flat,

square moulds, and beaten and

boxes; bricks are thus obtained which

are dried in the sun. "

A

few hours are

sufiicient for

this drying, since

undesirable that the bricks should lose for

if

they did so they would break

in

all their

it

is

moisture;

being used.

When

THE ASSYRIANS.

141

they have attained the proper condition, the bricklayers lay them, carefully crossing the joints, and slightly wetting

the subjacent bed, to

Thus they

make

the

new bed adhere thoroughly.

obtain a structure which experiences neither

settling nor rending, for as this clay

_l

I

kneaded and the

L.

Plan of Assyrian Palace.

bricks are jointed, the

is

mass

is

Fig. 47.

homogeneous.

You

observe,

however, that the walls and the platforms are faced with large stones, which form a kind of

box containing the

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

142

Moreover, part of these bricks are burned to form

bricks.

aqueducts, which circulate

under the platform, and

arches or piers which require great solidity

You

for

they are some-

;

some of these glazed bricks around and above the southern portals. But we will not linger over these details we shall have leisure to examine them later on. The persons who come in chariots leave their vehicles in the covered places which you see at a'a times even glazed.

see

;

for the

king alone has the privilege of entering the interior

Let us proceed to the principal gate

courts in a chariot. at

B, for

I shall

that on the south

is

"Allow me," this portal,

said Epergos, "to admire the exterior of

which

is

crowned by an

have never seen elsewhere.

Who,

only a secondary entrance, as

explain to you."

then, taught

you

this

It

is

Necessity.

extremely

;

earth

— Fin.

which

.'

48.

convey wood hither it

I

strangely.

Forests do not abound here as in Media

difficult to

makes timber quickly perish when clay

me

method of building

Construction of Assyrian Vaulting.

"

arch, a thing

surprises

is

;

;

it

besides heat

in contact

with

moreover, timber coverings, even when overlaid with

—the plan adopted

in

some regions

to the north

not afford a sufficiently cool temperature within. obliged, therefore, to

do without wood, and

— do

We

are

to build entirely

THE ASSYRIANS. with clay. cessors

It

came

M3

was only by gradual means that our predeSeeing that beams,

to invent this vaulting.

placed horizontally on the tops of the walls, bent under the

weight of the earth forming the roofing, and were destro}'ed

by

the numerous insects that infested them, the builders of

former times canes, which

first

conceived the idea of forming with the

abound on the

curvature was kept fixed

river

by

banks, arches whose

other canes placed below,

and diagonally

vertically, horizontally,

(fig.

Thus

48).

they composed a substantial piece of wicker work of large dimensions.

On

clay, following the

on the walls.

It

framework

wicker

this

lighter canes lengthwise

;

then a

first

form of the arch as

was allowed

Centering with Vaulting

in

they

placed

horizontal layer of soft it

to dry for

was rammed

rose,

When

one day.

Horizontal Layers.

— Fig.

it

49.

had hardened, a second layer of clay was placed on it, still following the form of the centre as it rose and thus, ;

proceeding by horizontal layers, to which, when

laid,

they

allowed time to dry, the arched wicker framework gradually

became completely covered with layers

As

each of these entire series

(fig. 49) and the builders removed the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal canes, leaving only

presented the section all

clay.

had been deposited horizontally, the ;

those which had given the clay

remained then a

series of rods,

its

curvature.

There

showing which they dared

not remove from under the vault, believing them necessary

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

144

to

its

support.

But

the process of drying, these canes

in

soon ceased to adhere to the clay, and that they were useless " Since

;

so they took

it

became evident

them away.

each layer of clay must be dried before the

following one was laid, these vaults took a long time to

Every other day, moreover, a sufficient quantity of clay must be tempered for ramming the new layer. Sometimes this clay was moistened too much, sometimes too little. Delay and even danger was the result, because

build.

the layers the work.

when

too wet would crack and risk the

fall

of

Moreover, when they were near the summit of

the vault, the portions of clay along the curves being very thin,

would dry much more rapidly than those

haunches of the thin parts moist. care,

vaults.

It

laid

on the

was necessary to keep these

All this required an excessive degree of

and success was never

certain.

already beginning to mould bricks as

They were, however, we mould them now.

was then that a man, held in great respect on account of his knowledge, and whom we call Kabu, proposed to build on the curved reeds in the same way as walls are " It

Vaulting made with Vousoirs.

built, that is to say,

50)

;

— Fic.

50.

laying the bricks as you see here

(fig.

consequently, to pass from the vertical direction in the curved direction of the

which the wall was

built to

arch, without leaving

any angle between the two directions

;

THE ASSYRIANS. in a word, to carry the arches

more and more.

to speak, curving over

Kabu had much difficulty in men pronounced him

appears that

his idea

adopted

asserting

that

moment

a wall ceased to

constructed a small

You

of

crazed,

to stand .

.

Epergos

;

" perhaps this

trivial."

means," replied Epergos; "it interests me, and

you

to hear

relate

it

;

and

I will

tell

you the sequel

continued he, looking askance at his companion

it,"

Doxius,

who was

evidently

ill

though

his principle

"

at ease.

a vault did not persuade the elders

Kabu's model of

the}' told

;

might hold good

in the

him that

small scale,

such a construction executed on a large scale would libly

the

But Kabu

arch according to his system.

smile," said the architect to

"By no

be able

the vertical.

account seems to you rather

I like

getting

the elder

;

deviated from

it

round by means of a com-

Tlius the wall would be continued, so

plete semi-circle.

" It

145

break down.

moulded of the

Then Kabu had wedge-shaped

size of ordinary bricks

;

infal-

bricks

and placing them

together dry, without the interposition of wetted clay, he

demonstrated by experiment that these bricks would hold together of themselves. " Zulul,

the most obstinately prejudiced

among the elders,

demanded nothing short of Kabu's banishment, since he was contravening the laws of nature by sorceries. .

Thou .

.

seest that

Kabu

Tigris

;

nevertheless

"

know

the story in

its

.

minutest details.

was, in fact, obliged to quit the shores of the

but

you on the

I

it

seems that

...

in

his ideas

spite of Zulul

have made their way ;

and

I

congratulate

fact.

Now, if thou wilt continue thy explanation of these we are attentive listeners." When they began to make bricks specially adapted for

marvels, "

the construction of arches, according to Kabu's suggestion,"

k

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

146

architect. "

resumed the

and glaze is,

was not

it

their faces, as they

difficult to

burn them

burn and glaze pottery.

It

baked and glazed bricks that we form

then, with these

the fronts of the archways which display their brilliant colours in the sunshine, the string-courses and tablets and

the surbases of the halls, and even the pavement of rooms.

But

let

us go

This principal gate

in.

ornamented with winged to a

first

whose jambs are

and a second vestibule, where the servants remain

who accompany Here

sence.

B,*

bulls cut in stone, gives admission

is

the persons

summoned

the greater court

C,

to the king's pre-

belonging to the suite

of apartments specially reserved for the king

On

the south side opens a

hall, in front

long court, and a thick wall in which

and a second smaller one.

— the

of which is

is

seraglio.

a second

a large doorway

In this hall and court assemble

the parties to causes submitted to the decision of the king.

The litigants of high birth enter by the great door, the rest by the small one but neither can be introduced into thehall D till they have given their names to the officer posted ;

At

at the small door F.

the hour fixed for the

trials, all

cross the court, and betake themselves to the halls on the north, F II,

and

and the

G.

The king

litigants, as

through the door lighted.

A

I.

is

seated on a throne placed at

they are successively called on, pass

You

see

how

the second hall

G

is

demi-cupola, open to the sky, rests on the vault

in the centre of the hall " (fig. 51.) " is

This

is

certainly very beautiful," said Epergos;

thy opinion of

quite in the

it,

wrong

Doxius in

wishing to prohibit this poor

from constructing arches

;

for this

ingenious application of that " In fact, since

more

difficult to

is,

in

truth, a

it

was scarcely

cupolas and demi-cupolas. * See

Kabu

new and

first idea.

they were making arches,

make

"what

Confess that the old Zulul was

?

fijjure 47.

But

this

Interior of a Hali,

in

the Asi^vrian Palace. — Kig.

51. \

lo face fctge

146.

Entrance of one of the Buildincs of the Assvrian Palace.— Fig.

52.

{To /ace fagt

147.

THE ASSYRIANS. one

skilfully

is

"Oh

Wert thou the

managed.

vaults of this kind

147

to adopt

first

" ?

no!" replied the

ture has long been

"This kind of strucstill more easy to

architect.

and they are

in use,

Here these demi-cupolas, opening

build than the arches.

on the terraces of the palace, have the advantage of pleasantly illuminating the interior of these halls, while they

prevent the sun's rays from being too powerful. curtains are is

subdued, and the

air circulates "

continued the architect, into the buildings

to

go again "

On

freely.

light

this side,"

there are no passages leading

on the northern

and we

side,

shall

have

into the great court."

Permit me," said Epergos,

"

to contemplate this door-

way of the first hall (fig. 52.) "What is the meaning of these winged faces,

Besides,

hung before these openings, and thus the

bulls with

human

which form the piers of the entrance, and between

whose

legs long inscriptions are engraved

"The

" ,''

inscriptions record the labours of the king

;

as for

the winged bulls, these representations belong to the class of sacred things, and "

Look above

it is

forbidden to speak of them."

at those palm-trees of

cedar-wood overlaid

with gold plates, and which accompany that enamelled painting representing a royal chase, and those poles ter-

minated by disks of gold. " It is all

wonderful

;

but

I

see that the walls are very

frequently ornamented with large vertical cylinders like

trunks of trees put close together."

"Yes, that ancestors,

gether

;

is

a tradition of the

first

constructions of our

which were made of trunks of trees placed

and though we now build with

bricks,

to-

we have

preserved the souvenir of that primitive structure. "

In

built."

fact, I

remember having seen

in

Media houses thus

THE HABirATlOXS OF MAN.

148

"The two

K

halls,

arranged like those you have just

L,*

and which arc assigned to the

seen,

household,

lead

courts, M,

N,

the

to

seraglio,

of the royal

officers

which comprises three

You

and the king's apartments.

O,

observe that this quarter

entirely shut

is

will

and only

off,

communicates with the north-.eastern buildings by a single door

These north-east buildings, which have two

a.

by the

P and R, are tenanted of the prince, S

by the

quarter

who have

officers

their private entrance at the gate

and the ascent

stairs b

courts,

attached to the service

for the

chariots

This

a'.

also isolated from the others."

is

"

Now

"

Observe that the only entrance from the outside

let

us pass to the south-east angle."

the door/, and from the court of the seraglio

The

g.

The

court T.

its

the most orderly

The

by

is

the door

provisions and the kitchens are in this quarter,

which has also in

by

manner

in

provisions are arranged

the storehouses

1 1

u

it

u.

servants convey the viands to the ro)-al table, passing

through the door g, and entering the large halls of the seraglio, where sometimes morning banquets are given to persons of distinction, or "

But

am

in

the private apartments.'

All these halls are ceiled with semi-circular vaulting. this

is

able to

the most interesting part of the

show

it

}'ou as

it is

harem, on the north-west angle.

and

villa,

not yet occupied.

It is

The only entrance

I

the

to this

by the door V, the little vestibule v', and the second vestibule v". Here at X is a long court, The harem properly in which the eunuch guards reside. so called has its court, on which open two small rooms c e part of the building

is

for the

women who have

halls

h reserved for the children, who remain

up

Jl

to the

women

age of

pass their

the care of the children, two large

two other

five,

da\-s,

in the

halls / / in

harem

which the

and the sacred apartments

* See figure 47.

;;/

///

THE ASSYRIANS. destined for the prince

when he

149

resides in his harem.

The

from the enclosure walls by

apartments are separated

courts communicating with the lodgings of the

isolating-

eunuchs p p p p p p"

Let us go out and

the observatory placed at the

visit

north-west angle of the platform at

120 feet high, and

is

base

its

is

This observatory

Z.

a square of 70 feet.

by

The

ascent to the platform at the top

is

whose aggregate length

This observatory, like

the

all

some

feet.

of unburnt bricks with a facing of stone

rest, is built

at the base,

820

is

The

first

you

like to

"With

it

the sixth

is

silvered,

shines in the sun.

Would

fifth scarlet,

See how

last gilded.

the walls

painted in a different

is

black, the second white, the third

is

orange, the fourth blue, the

and the

Each of

parts of glazed bricks.

of the inclines forming a stage colour.

inclined planes,

"

go to the top

?

pleasure," said Epergos,

and he began

to climb

the slopes at a brisk pace, while Doxius and the architect

were ascending more slowly.

Figure 53 presents a bird'seye view of a part of the palace, taken from the south-west angle.

The view from

the higher platform of the observatory

On

was charming.

the horizon to the south-east the city

of the Ninevites could be discerned, already of considerable extent,

and with

lofty walls,

palaces.

The

—

Tigris

between which

whose centre was occupied by

divided into several branches, from

emerged islands

covered

with

a

rich

vegetation, and with country houses exhibiting whitened walls

and terraces

numerous with

air,

bearing along on

circular rafts supported

its

Beyond the shores,

down

river,

their

a

provisions

of

rapid current

by leathern bags

each navigated by some half dozen

thus bringing

its

— was

all

filled

men who were

sorts

to the city.

chain of hills followed the course of

barren

summits

contrasting with

the

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

15°

expanse of dark verdure which covered

On

tlic

lower slopes.

immense plain, streaked in every by canals whose waters shone in the sun like silver plates, and from whose bosom mic^ht be seen rising at the intervals artificial mounds surmounted by buildings mansions of influential personages surrounded by wellthe east extended an

part

—

kept gardens.

On

Tigris lost itself

the north, the winding course of the

amid

belts of 'blue hills

which rose

in

succession towards an horizon of limpid clearness.

ZCh(>\U

View

of Assyrian Palace.

Fig. 53.

Epergos, supporting his chin on his hand, and leaning

on the upper balustrade, seemed

lost in

contemplation.

THE ASS YRIANS. "

Well

!

"

And

what

is

arm

said the architect touching his

that large square enclosure which

there, in the plain, the side of

I

which seems to

or thereabouts, and whose area

;

" is

not

But

tell

me

?

"

the earth too," replied Epergos.

5

"

heavens

this a fine situation for observing the "

1

see laid out

me

a furlong

quite bare of vegeta-

is

tion?" " It

is

the enclosure destined for the royal chase."

"What am I to understand by that " "At the present day, if the lion, formerly common ?

these plains,

to be hunted,

is

The king cannot

or westwards.

expeditions.

you must go

in

northwards

spare time for such distant

Servants, trained for the purpose, take large

cages and contrive

to entrap

domains

;

and

lions

lionesses in the

These are conveyed

mountains, without injuring them. the royal

far

and when

to

the sovereign wishes to

indulge in the pastime of the chase, he surrounds this

into

and the cages are then wheeled

The king then mounts

it.

at his side,

him.

spears,

large bucklers and

by

enclosure with soldiers, protected

armed with strong

a chariot, with his charioteer

and accompanied by two hunters selected by

The cages

are then opened

the soldiers utter loud

;

shouts; the wild beasts, bewildered

every direction

the

;

by the

uproar, run in

king pursues them, and from his

Sometimes the them with arrows. beasts, infuriated by their wounds, throw themselves on the horses or on the wheels, then the two assistants, armed

chariot

transfixes

with lances, slay them."

"But

this sport

seems to

me somewhat

"All depends on the charioteer

;

if

he

dangerous." is

skilful,

he can

elude the attack of the beasts, and afford his master an

opportunity for shooting them. great delight in this sport, and

sometimes

kills

The is

present king takes

very

skilful

at

it.

He

a dozen lions and lionesses in a single

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

152

Accordingly, great favours are bestowed by the

evening.

king upon a charioteer of experience and agihty.

—

the event of an accident,

course by

—

if

the king

"

Why

"

They

and so

?

is

imperilled

what happens

woe

oh, then,

:

him

to

But

arrested in

is

Hon fastening on the

furious

him to a cross, leave him to die."

"Are drivers "

some

the chariot

if

in its

horse's flanks,

to the driver

!"

?

or drive a stake into his breast,

nail

these tortures reserved for unskilful or unfortunate

.''

By no means

.

Look

.

.

Do

of this hunting-field.

.

.

a

!

little

to the right

you see those stakes and

— a great number of them "Yes, certainly

there

crosses,

" ?

and

.

I

fancy

I

see bodies too

attached to these stakes."

"Yes;

they are the bodies of eight hundred rebels

from the northern provinces brought here before the king, for

he alone can order their execution."

"

And

"

Certainly

he has done so !

Do you

" .-'

see also those flights of birds of

prey hovering over the gibbets "

"

Epergos turned away.

Oh, those are only the most guilty

architect, " ten

working

edifices, if

!

"

thousand have been kept as

at the canals, the walls,

materials.

How

could w;e get

we had not ;

unhealthy work.

making

continued the slaves,

bricks,

workmen

and are

and carrying

to build these vast

slaves in considerable

command ? Especially as many of them for working is

.-'

numbers

at our

these works shorten the lives of in

the

mud

during the hot season

Since this palace was begun,

we have

more than two thousand workmen." " But if a long peace deprived your sovereign of the means of furnishing his domains with a sufficient supply

lost

of slave labour, what would you do "

" .''

This has been the case sometimes

;

and then emissaries

THE ASSYRIANS.

155

are sent into the northern provinces, in the direction of

Media, and beyond, whose mission population of these districts the yoke

— to

revolt.

it

— which are

is

to

excite the

never easy under

Provoked by these agents, they

pay the tributes, or intercept the messages, or massacre some of the royal delegates. The king sends an army, the country is pillaged, and the whole population in this way our building works carried away into slavery refuse to

:

are

supplied with labour

who

;

are regarded as the

assembled

and the crucifixion of a few,

most

slaves, renders those

guilty, in presence of the

who

are spared submissive

girls, and they work without murmuring." "These are expensive palaces," whispered Epergos to Doxius and addressing the architect, he said " But the fear of torture does not make sculptors and painters." " Oh, as to fine work of that kind, it is different We have corporations of sculptors and painters subjected to

and docile as

:

;

!

severe rules

;

these artisans are instructed in schools taught

by masters under sacerdotal direction for nothing must be done which is not in accordance with religion. These men are free, and live together in quarters assigned them and ;

;

what they gain goes into the fund of the corporation, which

is

charged with the maintenance of each of

its

members." Just then a person presented himself on the platform,

and said something

to the architect.

must go down," said the latter to the visitors ; "a message has been brought me from the court; but you need not hurry. Here," said he, presenting them " I

with a small plate of lead on which certain characters

were

" this

marked,

palace without

me we ;

will

shall

enable

you

meet again

to

inspect

the

after sunset."

Epergos and Doxius remained on the platform a few

moments

longer.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

154

The shadows were lengthening

in

the plain, and appeared

like sheets of lapis lazuli gradually outspread

The

of gold.

tions sparkled like

The whole

the slanting rays of the sun.

seemed aflame

;

upon a carpet

assumed leaden hues, while the habitatopazes amid verdure purple-tinted by

river

region of the west

and on the horizon, through the glowing

atmosphere, long ruddy streaks were

visible.

workmen and

were heard the songs of

rustics.

From

afar

Tinted by

the last rays of the setting sun, and the reflections of the sky, the terraces of the palace were beginning to assume lilac

hues

buried

in

and

;

courts

its

seemed so many wide basins

shade, whence emerged the tops of date-trees

flecked with gold.

Epergos, contrary to his habit, did not appear disposed to break the silence

and Doxius looked askance

;

from time to time with a

paragon of

him

when they began to descend the observatory, "what dost thou say of this

"Well." said the inclines of the

at

sinister smile.

latter,

civilisations

Art thou not proud of the

}

human

race, aided by thy precious making and especially that part" of it which has the good fortune to engage thy sympathies.'' Is it not

progress which the influence,

is

;

erecting splendid palaces, and diverting the course of rivers to irrigate

its fair fields

Does

.''

not transact

it

with the most admirable regularity as

profusely liberal

it is

faction desires "

Does such

.''

}

a

Why,

.-'

Is

it

all its afi*airs

not as economical

then, this look of dissatis-

success

still

fall

short

of

thy

.''

Doxius,

I

know thy

malice of old

;

now hold thy

peace." "

Why

wonder

should

I

}

Am

I

not,

like thyself, struck with

at the splendours of this abode,

so strongly urged

thou sayest

:

me

to visit

.-*

It is

which thou hast

somewhat

costly, as

provinces must be pillaged, and their inha-

THE ASSYRIANS. bitants reduced to slavery

155

masse, after

eji

some hundreds

of them have been hanged or empaled, to secure this industrial progress

;

satisfaction of one;

men must

thousands of

and

if

they are

labour for the

insufficient,

reason-

it is

able to set to work to provoke poor brutes to rebel against

view to get a pretext for making

this civilisation with a

them co-operate truce,

Doxius, to thy sarcasms

" Positively,

I

thou

hast

;

wherever

it

just

think

I

it

say no more

" !

Hast thou not

men who produce such admirable

not sought for and followed them

them

has pleased

Wert thou not

;

cannot understand thee.

lent thine aid to these

things

In fact,

"

very ingenious, for

"A

development.

in its

now

disperse

to

themselves

?

expatiating on their aptitudes

on the advantages of some supposed mixtures of races adapted to favour certain developments themselves superior to others

and

;

These men think

?

they are so

in fact

point of courage, industry, and love of order assert their superiority, considering other Is this

it is

cattle.

true."

Dost thou approve of

people

and they

men mere

true?"

"Yes, "

;

in

their

manner of

treating other

.''

"No." "Well, then, to what purpose, things,

is

the general order of

in

development of

this prodigious

improvement of the appliances of

life,

civilisation,

—

if

"

Hearken, Doxius

there

is

I

!

I

neither wish, nor

do not know.

something monstrous

.

in all this

this

some few only

reap the advantage, to the detriment of the mass

answer thee to-day.

—

am

able to

I

admit that

I

.

" .'

—something truly

in this frightful consumption of materials and of Yet what a grand race what power and energy! Consider what they have done! What

shocking

men.

!

—

.

.

.

.

.

.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

iS6

progress ings." "

.

.

!

.

.

these vast

.

Oh, excellent

doubtless

constructions

.

.

these vault-

.

.

!

Vaulting

!

an admirable invention,

is

my

but do not deny that

founded when

presentiment was well

opposed the adoption of

I

warmly applauded by

Thou

thee.

these vaultings of thine

this fancy,

once so

what they

seest

cost,

human

The\' require heaps of

!

corpses for their foundations."

Thus

disputing, the

companions had re-entered the great

A few remaining warm tints

court of the palace.

ly gilded the higher parts of the buildings

;

all

still

faint-

the rest was

buried in a blue shade, and the sky was already glittering

The

with stars.

sculptures which adorned the

strange

Throne Hall

portals of the

;

those winged bulls which

seemed to be issuing from below the sombre vault, and whose human heads were still illumined by the twilight, irresistibly attracted

experienced,

They

the attention of the visitors.

presence of these mysterious figures, a

in

vague sensation of dread.

Epergos, buried in thought,

appeared himself a statue fixed in front of these colossi.

"Art thou expecting the winged speak to thee "

They

"

And what

"

Thou

?

"

do, in fact,

him on the shoulder.

speak to me," replied Epergos.

do they say to thee

shalt

For several

bulls of the palace to

said Doxius, slapping

" ?

know another time but :

da\'s,

travelling along the shores of the Tigris.

saw

well-cultivated,

let

us depart."

Epergos and Doxius were engaged because

in

Ever\'where they

well-irrigated

The

fields.

roads exhibited the most perfect order; and along them

might be seen vehicles continually passing, or herds of cattle quietly moving. irrigation,

this

Numerous

and were also

in

canals served the purpose of

constant use for navigation

means of transport being the

;

least laborious in that

country, where for a great part of the year the heat

is

most

THE ASSYRIANS. oppressive. all

built

The houses

157

scattered over the country were

The

on nearly the same model.

better class

had

vaulted roofs; the less pretentious were covered in with palm-

trunks and canes, upon which earth, beaten and plastered,

formed terraces where awnings were stretched out to form sleeping places

by

night,

and

These terraces were reached by

shade

for

inclines of

rH

Assyrian House.

in

Fig.

the daytime.

unburnt brick.

_ —

54.

Figure 54 represents one of these habitations. basements are generally made of stones (irregularly

The laid),

to withstand the floods which sometimes inundate the plain.

On

these are erected walls of unburnt bricks, with lintels of

wood over

the doors and windows.

Then

laree tree-trunks

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

iS8

are laid across, on the tops of the walls, and others smaller,

way

the contrary

next canes and clay, well-kneaded and

;

covered with lime plaster; for the Nineviteshave the art of converting certain lime stones into lime by burning

mixing

and excellent

They

plaster.

also procure

mountains to the west, which

between the baked

upon the terraces. them, and they use

When

the heat

is

bricks,

bitumen

fine

the

in

cement

they use as a

under pavements, and also

This bitumen it

and

;

make very

with fine river sand, they

this lime

is

of great service to

largely.

so intense as to

become

stifling

even in

the interiors of the dwellings, the well-to-do inhabitants have tents of thick white woollen stuffs placed on the terraces,

and servants are kept continually watering these tents outThus the sun, by causing this water to evaporate, side. rapidly produces an agreeable coolness beneath the tents.

"It

is

evident," said Doxius, "that in these countries the

enjoyment of

depends on being born among the domin-

life

Never have

ant and wealthy part of the community. a people

among v/hom

was more

seen

I

the condition of the poorer classes

pitiable."

"Must we not except Egypt? " replied Epergos. " No, indeed in Egypt there is a settled order of :

things

;

the several classes have their privileges, their rights, and their obligations

;

they are separated by

the meanest of these classes

is

strict

rules

treated paternally,

compare the treatment they receive with that which have to undergo, who are not of noble

but

;

we

if

all

here

race, or favoured

by

the great or by the king." " is

Yes,

I

agree with thee that the condition of this people

miserable

;

and unfeeling

that the dominant class ;

—

that

it

is

tyrannical, harsh,

shamefully abuses

observe, Doxius, a great

work

is

its

power.

going on here.

This

But is

a

vast laboratory, where the civilisations of the future are

THE ASSYRIANS. being prepared

159

thy friends the Egyptians

;

may be

superior

to these Assyrians with their large eyes, thick eyebrows,

bushy beards, stout Hmbs, and wide shoulders but Progress takes no account of the former, because they have never been ;

in

contact with the world, except incidentally they are fixed, ;

and

will

remain fixed, on the banks of the Nile.

It is quite

otherwise with the inhabitants of these countries

swallow up other peoples, and perhaps

up

in their

turn

;

but they

me

king's palace were saying to said

We

:

have taught

will

Thou wert asking me what

mankind.

represent

the

we have wings

;

To

!

who

thee,

our labour

— who

things to

They

the other evening.

we

is

work,

the

carry everywhere,

and

intelligent,

be unprofitable nor devoid of glory, for head

many

the colossi of the

patient, persistent

material strength and power which for

they

;

be swallowed

will

we have

will not

a

human

dreadest every step in advance,

maintainest that every attempt, every experiment,

every

efibrt, even,

leads to perdition,

— the

Egyptians ap-

pear to be the perfection of humanity." "

Yes, certainly," interrupted Doxius.

'*

Well

;

thy friends the Egyptians

people shut

in,

an exceptional race

remain

will is

it

:

that the great glory of humanity, which

and hoping people

and

— despite

its

its

contempt

superior caste

"Ah!

will

for,

I

have

its

spring of

fertilising

off again!

Vaultings,

them

course of glorious destinies

!

expecting

corruption

!

eternal immutability on the

of the

life."

—gimcracks,

dis-

then humanity enters on a Well,

thou predictest to

if

banks of the

to thee unproductive activity, ruins,

and

end or intermission, on these Assyrian "

among them

am

whereas from this

;

abuse of power, despite

coveries, as thou callest

me

I

for everything outside the pale

— may issue a

see,

birth

its

not

for ever a

Perhaps thou speakest truth

;

Nile, I predict

disasters,

without

plains,"

but the rest of the world

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

i6o

will live

for to live

;

dry up

thine will "

Egypt

is

is

to

be

in action,

like a lake that is

born to endure

and that Kgypt of

no longer

for ever

;

for

it

fed."

has the wisdom

inherent in eternal things, which are unchangeable."'

"Nothing is unchangeable, everything change of form." " That which changes dies." "

The

contrary

is

the real truth

sion of transformations."

;

for life

is

is

subject

to

only a succes-

CHAPTER

XV.

THE PELASGI.

THE

stream from the east had continued to spread

emigrants through Media speak, it

Aryan

up, so to

settled in that country,

could no longer spread southwards

small settlements of pure

dammed

but,

;

by the numerous populations

;

and while leaving

race on the banks of the

Araxes, and as far as the southern slopes of the Caucasus, it

spread farther and farther along the shores of the Euxine,

occupied the

fertile

countries which later on took the

name

of Armenia, Paphlagonia, and Bithynia, crossed the Bos-

phorus, and founded colonies in Thrace, Macedonia, and

Thessaly.

The

isles

of the iEgean sea were peopled

by

them, as also the Peloponnesus.

These settlements had already long existed

when

at the timt-

Epergos and Doxius were visiting the palace of the

Ninevite king.

On

the other hand, the

Aryan

peoples, mingled with

those of the Semitic race, had spread along a line parallel

Taurus chain, and were occupying

to the north of the

Phrygia, Caria, Lycia, Rhodes and Crete, or at least the ';ountries thus designated at

a later period.

Nomadic

or

rather migratory in their habits, they continued for a long

time without

fixed

settlements

;

they

did not

live

in

waggons like the Scythians, but dwelt temporarily in huts built amid the forests which covered all these countries and possessed herds of cattle and swine, and flocks of sheep and ;

geese.

They already

cultivated the ground in the plains

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

l62

but

in a

primitive

sowed seed

in

\va\'.

and

it

was not

till

later

on that they

ground prepared by the plough.

The

habi-

tations of these Pelasgi' consisted of a low circular wall,

formed of large stones, on which was erected a cone of branches of trees covered with reeds or twigs

The

^

fire

was made

in

the middle, and the

(fig.

smoke

55).

issued

^^^^^^^l^yig,;

House

of Pelasgian Peasant.

from the top of the cone.

A

Fig

55.

circular enclosure, likewise

constructed of large stones, surrounded each of these huts.

Having

lived '

among "Pelasgian

the mountains ever since they " signifies'old, ancient.

THE PELASGI. •quitted the plateaus of the Indus,

163

and having formed but a

sh'ght acquaintance with the already highly civilised peoples

settled in the south of Media, they

and simple character. vehicles

drawn by oxen or

and preserved the

had preserved

their rude

Like their ancestors, they

had

horses, lived together in tribes,

religious beliefs of the Aryas, slightly

modified during their migrations.

When

they settled on the west of the vEgean

sea, the

Pelasgi found in these regions barbarian aborigines,

first

who

Always on horseback, these

on acorns and milk-food.

lived

inhabitants drove their great herds of cattle before

them with long pointed Given to

sticks.

pillage, difficult to capture,

and inhabiting only

new comers

•caves or forest jungles, they obliged the

many

for

years to defend themselves against their aggressions

and these

struggles

left

such an indelible remembrance

;

in

the minds of the Pelasgi, that they continued to portray

on their public monuments those primitive contests with these beings

the

soil

The

— half-horse,

half-man

— who

had disputed

with them.

Pelasgian tribes prospered, however

wheat and the vine, extracted

oil

from the

themselves to agricultural pursuits.

;

they cultivated

and devoted

olive,

Those inhabiting the

coast and the islands had built vessels, were engaged in

commerce, and practised piracy.

Relations were thus esta-

blished between the populations of the opposite shores of

the

^gean

;

— relations which were not

which none the

less tended, in

many

always

pacific,

but

about

cases, to bring

the fusion of the two peoples.

Most of the inhabitants of the Asiatic coast were more Semitic than the Aryan race they

nearly akin to the

;

already possessed arts comparatively advanced metals

;

and were

and towns.

The

skilful in the art of

Pelasgi

;

worked

building large vessels

of Thessaly and

those of the

1

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

64

shores of the rdoponnesus, were obliged to concert measures for resisting the incursions of the peoples settled on

The

the Asiatic coast.

formed federations, and the

tribes

most powerful among them, or those whose most

intelligent,

coasts, they built

The in

towns and

countries inhabited

by high steep

various kinds

buildings.

were

soon acquired a marked preponderance.

In imitation of the piratical tribes

sected

chiefs

hills

who ravaged

their

citadels.

by the Northern and

ravines,

Pelasgi, inter-

were peculiarly rich

of stone suitable for

durable

erecting

Accordingly, the Pelasgi did not

to

fail

make

abundant use of these materials, avoiding tedious workmanship, however; for they

still

had only bronze

tools,

and

were therefore unable to give shapes of delicacy to these materials. little

As

for traditions of art,

they had none

had been able

instruction they

to faint recollections derived

to gather

;

and the

was limited

from the iMedes of the north

during their sojourn south of the Caucasus, and from the articles

they received from the Carians and Lycians

change

for the products of their soil.

These Pelasgian simplicity

of their

villages,

in

ex-

however, despite the extreme

buildings,

preserved

a character

of

strength and rude grandeur, in perfect accordance with the

unpolished manners and primitive habits of the people.

Taking advantage of naturally defended

positions, such

as promontories and acclivities, they surrounded these positions with thick walls built of large unsquared blocks of stone,

irregularly laid according

Tyrrhenians

;

to the

method of the

thus was formed the citadel, which enclosed

the treasure-house, one or more temples, and the habitations of the chiefs of the tribes.

Around

this citadel

were grouped the dwellings, which

were themselves surrounded by an enclosure.

The

men among them who had

the citadel.

not residences

in

leading

THE PEL A SGI. built their houses

X65

upon some commanding point of

difficult

access.

As were

the huts of the shepherd and the circular, so the

tiller

of the ground

dwelling of the rich preserved this

time-hallowed form, at least

in

one of

its

parts

;

for at that

time even the temples were built on a circular plan.

But

the dwellings of the rich were built almost entirely of stone,

— occasionally with a wooden

portico.

Figure 56 gives the plan of one of the most spacious

Plan of House of a Pelasgian noble.

and costly of

their houses.

eminence,

is

it

Fig. 56.

Built on the

summit

of a rocky

surrounded by a wall which crowns

levelled summit, following

all

its

natural sinuosities.

this

A

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

i66

flight of steps

AB

gives access to the platform

but at C a

;

gate shuts off the steps about the middle of the ascent.

D

is

At

a portico formed of trunks of trees roughly fashioned,

supporting a longitudinal beam, on which rest the joists

A

and the roof E,

single door gives entrance to the vestibule

which opens on the right into an apartment

servants and strangers remain

form at

II

;

and on the

left

occupied by the master

;

G,

where the

—with a kitchen of circular

to a similar apartment F,

which

and a small chamber

which

i,

is is

the family treasury.

From circular

the vestibule there

room

collecting

This

K.

and where meals

in

is

is

a direct entrance into the

the place for social gatherings,

common

and preserving the

are taken. rain-water.

At L is At M

a cistern are huts

for the servants.

The

following

the method according to which the

is

Pelasei construct their dwellings

:

jT

Section of

A, figure

of a Pelasgian noble.

— Fia.

57.'

57, gives the transverse section of the

and of the portico

As

House

:

B,

the entire edifice

room G

the section of the circular hall K. is

built with large stones, these are

THE PELASGI. lifted to their

inclines

when It

by main

place

167

strength, with the help of

formed of stones and earth, which are taken away

all is finished.

however, for the erection of the basement chiefly

is,

that materials of great size are used

when the workmen

;

reach the corbelled-out sloping walls they use lighter stones,

and

When

select flat ones.

the structure

complete

is

— care

being taken that every stone exactly covers the joints of those beneath

mixed with

— the upper

part

is

straw, so as to cover

plastered over with clay

the stones that present

all

slopes on the exterior.

The by

Pelasgi assert that these buildings were so designed

their ancestors

;

but

certain that they derived their

it is

—

what they saw on the shores of Asia in Caria and Lycia though in these countries there were two modes ideas from

;

of building

— one entirely with stone, which seems to belong

to the Tyrrhenians,

shown here

;

particularly to

There

and which much resembles what

the other with timber, which belongs

Aryan

the migrations of the peoples to is

lonians.

moreover, different versions of the history of

are,

given, but

though they

by the

traditions inherited

whose Aryan

whom

origin

may have been mixed

tions at a very

early period.

We

name

of lonians

cannot be

doubted,

the

with Semitic popula-

must suppose these

lonians to have passed from Asia into Europe

i.e.,

the Pelo-

ponnesus, and to have been driven out by the Achseans

some would have returned colonies

and

;

is

more

to Asia

;

where they founded

others would have sought refuge on the coast of

the Archipelago which preserves their name. But to return to the Pelasgian habitation of which the

Elis

in

plan has been given. with

its

Figure 58 presents

it

in perspective,

escarped enclosure crowned with large, rough stones

which form so many merlons, and the openings between

them

crenelations for defence.

On

the platform are a few

'

.-r '^ ^i^^

View

of

House

of a Pelasglan noble.

Fig. 58.

THE PELASGI. fig

and

The

olive-trees,

set apart for the servants.

wood and covered with reeds occupied by the family during the

portico, constructed of

and straw, day.

round the huts

169

is

the place

The space between the posts is partly closed with As stated above, these Pelasgi live in tribes more

wattling.

or less powerful, but which tend more and more to unite in

Their occupations are divided between the

federations.

cultivation of the

soil,

cattle-breeding,

They remained, however, contrasted with the progress tions of Asia.

and

made by

edifices, in

which, as

the original traditions and countries

the Ionian popula-

These, being in permanent connection with

nations already highly advanced in the

sumptuous

pii^acy.

of simplicity which

in a state

may be

said to

we

were building

shall presently see,

influences

have been

arts,

of the

reflected.

bordering

CHAPTER

XVI.

THE lONIANS OF ASIA, THE CARIANS AND LYCIANS.

THE

inhabited

countries

known

by the people

as

lonians, on the western shores of Asia opposite the

Peloponnesus, were rich and

fertile,

their

mountain slopes

at that time being covered with forests.

Wood and

suitable for building were in abundance.

We find ourselves

in

stones

a far different scene from that of the great alluvial plains

we behold a country broken up by mountains and furrowed by water-courses, and whose deeply indented of Assyria

;

shores presented bays and gulfs peculiarly suited for the

concealment of

piratical vessels.

on the south, was the

The

island of Rhodes,

of a series of isles which opposed

first

a kind of dyke, cut by passes, to the expeditions of invaders

from the west.

Most of these Rhodes,

islands,

commencing with

— were occupied by Ionian colonies.

cal position so

the largest,

A geographi-

favourable to agriculture, commerce, and

even piracy, with a

fine climate,

had afforded the lonians

an opportunity of rapidly developing their natural endow-

ments they were therefore becoming wealthy and powerful. As Epergos had correctly presaged, the mingling of the ;

two races

— Aryan and Semitic—was rapidly producing an

exceptionally energetic development of the arts the

Aryan branch was

;

and where

relatively vigorous, the arts, instead

of resting stationary as

in

Egypt, and even

in

the lands of

Assyria, were in a state of continual progress and transfor-

mation.

Now

these lonians had preserved the timber-

THE WNIANS OF ASIA,

ETC.

171

framed construction of Aryan traditions, and had adopted

from the Tyrrhenian Semites the method of building with In employing these two methods simul-

blocks of stone.

taneously, however, they did not

only placed them, as

it

mix them

;

were, in juxtaposition.

in fact,

From

they this

c^?^.

Plan of Ionian House.

Fig. 59.

procedure there resulted a very singular and incongruous style of art, but

whose consequences had a value the im-

portance of which

we

shall

soon be able to appreciate.

THE HA BITA TIONS OF MAN.

172

In the plans of their habitations, also, the lonians ex-

Aryan

the results of

hibited

combined with

traditions

Semitic influences.

This into

is

two

shown

Here the dwelling

in figure 59.

distinct parts

is

the one devoted to relations with

;

the external world, and the other to that interior

At A

concealed from view.

is

is

life

C

B,

;

one intended

in-

with two rooms

left

for the business of the proprietor,

every Ionian devotes himself to trade of some kind

the other for the lodging of the employes

A communicates with door

D,

which

is

unless admitted

The

b}'

strangers to the family,

by the master.

This door D opens into a court surrounded for provisions of every kind, ;

or

hall

the interior court only by a single

not passed

At E

supported by four columns.

portico

;

— servants

slaves who have to do with people out-of-doors.

the

and

on business.

for the reception of persons calling

This hall communicates right and

for

which

a kind of entrance-hall

relatively large, opening immediately from without,

tended

divided

at F

and which

room

the

is

in

b)'

porticos

the room intended is

entered only from

which the archives are

deposited, and where stands the altar of the gods.

At G

the place where the family assemble, as in the

Semitic

habitation.'

It is in this hall,

that the meals are taken

pass the

From

;

is

widely open to the portico,

and here the women and children

da}'.

the two sides of the portico at

chambers.

At K we have

I,

open the bed-

the kitchen with

its

offices,

communicating with the portico and the court M. This habitation is situated on the side of a hill, and in

directly

front

is

a platform

servants' quarters

L,

At M

with a low enclosure.

and

cattle sheds, with

opening on the platform, and the gardens ^

See

figs.

45, 46.

are the

a special court J,

to

which the

THE lONIANS OF ASIA, inhabitants of the house have

ETC.

175

immediate access by the

passage N. Figure 60 gives a view of the front of this habitation, whose walls are built of stone irregularly shaped or laid, but close-jointed, without mortar, and whose windowopenings, doorways, roofs, porticos, and ceilings are

wood, and the roof-covering of

Exterior view of Ionian House.

All the parts of the building in lively colours,

dominate. ness, "

among which

of

tiles.

made

Fig. 6o.

of

wood

are painted

yellow, red and white pre-

In the sunshine these colours lose their crude-

and harmonise

in the

most agreeable manner.

Here," said Epergos to his companion, as they were

passing

in front of this

dwelling, which belonged to a wealthy

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

»74

merchant, "is a beautiful residence, which

among

sembles what we saw on former occasions

low

on the Upper Indus,

race,

Egypt.

is it

;

"

not a

?

my

Let us not be

"The

candid opinion, this building seems to

a hurr\' to judge before

in

in

houses of

my

Egyptian friends appear to

on the

Why

Are houses

outside.-*

them, or for the passers

tempt

at display

more vain than "

We

we have

particularly."

it

every respect the most sensible. detail

in

this structure

incongruous."

little

examined

the yel-

"

not

"If you want

me

re-

Media, Ass}'ria, or

worth our while to examine

It is

in detail

in

no way

in

b}-

built for those

In

?

me

which makes

there

all this

me

in

profusion of

this

who is

live

an at-

suppose these people

wise."

shall see

:

but thou wilt perceive that the entrance

only of the habitation

specially decorated

is

Perhaps there

hibits great simplicity.

is

the rest ex-

;

a reason for the

particularly rich appearance of this entrance.

remember the dwellings which

Might not

this

be a tradition of those customs

.^

" }

discoursing, the companions were approaching the

central point of the front

Epergos,

"how

beyond the

(fig.

;

how

"See now," continued

6i).

that timber-work

of the two stone walls

how

Dost thou Aryas of the Upper Indus,

possessed a spacious hall intended for assemblies

all

Thus

of the

is

set in

between the ends

considerably that roof projects

front, so as to shelter the

ingeniously this projection

which bear on the ends of the

is

walls.

entrance well, and

supported by beams

And

these two posts

with their sculptured and painted caps, their lateral wooden partitions contrived.-*

and upper I

trellis-work,

do they not seem well

recognise here those round

which we formerly met with of the Indus and

among

in

wooden

joists

the buildings of the Aryas

the Medes.

But everywhere

else

Entrance of Ionian House.

Fig. 6i.

THE HABITATIONS

176

MAN.

01'

the timbers are carefully squared and covered with a thin

Then, again, see how well

coating admirably coloured.

those ends of the walls are built, with low, wide stones inter-

posed between pieces placed on end.

me

to

know what they

are about, and to

These men seem to do nothing without

good reason." "

We

had, indeed, the opportunity while passing along

their coasts, of seeing that they interests, are

proficients

when they

bargains

in

do not neglect

own

are not engaged in plundering their

Oh, they are clever enough

neighbours.

their

and can drive sharp

piracy,

It is

!

not surpris-

ing that with the profits they make, and the plunder they get,

they should build sumptuous dwellings."

At

this

moment

the owner of the house was just return-

ing home, accompanied by several servants.

young man

his face,

;

fully cleared

framed

in

He was

a

a short black beard care-

around the mouth, had an expression at once

genial and sensual.

The

nose, narrow

followed the line of the forehead

:

and of good

and

profile,

his eyes, slightly

turned up at the outer extremities, v/ere surmounted by delicate eyebrows regularly arched, as

drawn with a dant, and parted on

pencil.

A white, pointed broidered

all

if

they had been

His hair of ebony black, his forehead,

fell

abun-

silky,

behind his shoulders.

cap, slighth' curved back in front and

over with gold thread,

left

em-

A

the ears visible.

tunic fitting tight round the waist, with short sleeves, quite

covered with embroidered figures, over his

the neck bare

;

while

broad shoulders was thrown a kind of scarf

His

left

legs were covered with legging.s of fine white in little folds,

laced,

and

and with pointed toes

passed, he gave

something latter

in

stuff"

plaited

his feet enclosed in shoes of bright red,

slightly turned up.

a side-look at the

As he

companions, and said

an undertone to one of his servants.

The

approached Epergos and Doxius, and asked them

if

THE lONIANS OF ASIA,

ETC.

177

they were foreigners, and whether they had any communication to

make

Epergos

to the proprietor of the dweUing.

having repHed

in the affirmative, the servant

admitted them

into the entrance hall.

This hall was wainscoted throughout, and covered with a Penetrating through the

panelled ceiling richly painted.

lattice-work of the entrance, a subdued diffused itself in the interior.

and tranquil

light

Mats were spread around on

a very low, wide bench; and the pavement, entirely com-

posed of small polished stones of divers shades, reflected the vivid colouring of the wainscot.

Epergos and Doxius had not been utes,

when the master

news do you countries,

in the hall

"We

bring.''" said he.

b}-

To

is

We

have

who tra-

impatient under the yoke of the

the north of Media, along the Caspian sea,

tribes are continually passing

form settlements as

on their way westwards, to

far as the

Euxine.

vigorous and poor, daring and intrepid the desire of occupying the Ninevites.

What

savage tribes

have no intercourse with the other nations. Assyrians.

"

have seen the eastern

and the high lands peopled

versed Media, which

man)- min-

of the house joined them.

They

fertile

;

These men are

and they burn with

domains of the prosperous

are following the line of the Anti-Taurus

mountains, and are descending into the plains to the west of that chain.

"Well " It

!

does

.

."

how does so,

that concern me,

inasmuch as

I pra)-.'

"

this stream, ever flowing west-

ward along the same course, will ultimately reach the coasts which you inhabit." " Have we not towns in strong positions and well fortified, to which we can retreat, and whence we shall be able to descend and crush them "You have what is still better superior weapons, war chariots, and the science of warfare but you are wealthy .''

—

;

M

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

178

and

and these barbarians covet possessions

prosijerous,

which they have tains,

As

not.

long as they inhabit their moun-

with no means of subsistence but the products of the

chase, and have not

tomed

come

into contact with nations accus-

to the luxuries of a refined existence, they remain

tranquil

moment they

but the

;

which accompany

benefits

overthrowing everything

torrents,

glimpse of the

a

they spread like their

in

behind them, and having nothing to

and

course,

Leaving nothing

nor death.

neither privations

fearing

get

civilisation,

lose,

they are seen

rushing in numerous and half-starved hordes upon the fertile plains

eager to defend the possessions they have

;

conquered, when they have once set foot upon a territory that pleases them, they never quit "

Are they

still

" Certainly

far

And many

!

it

again."

"

from us

.''

years will elapse before they

reach so far as your prosperous countries, for they have

enough

occupy them

to

"If that

And

the guests to take

you not traders and "

we need not be uneasy."

the case,

is

having sent

?

for a long while."

for

wine and cakes, the master invited

some refreshments, and then said are you not come to this country

"

to

Are buy

become

ac-

:

"

sell

.-*

No," replied Epergos; "our object

their occupations

of your dwelling,

is

to

make inquiries respecting is why we stopped in front which appeared more beautiful and better

quainted with the nations

and

arts

to

;

;

that

arranged than any other." " It

me

was

I

who had

great wealth.

it

He

built,

my father

having bequeathed

lived in a small

—

wooden house, quit. Now-a-

very old one, but which he was unwilling to

days we have Tyrrhenian workmen, very skilful in working stone, and who hire their labour to people rich enough to

employ them

;

we

therefore

make

use, as

you

see,

of stones

THE I ONIANS OF to raise the walls,

ASIA, ETC.

and so enclose the wooden buildings to

which we are accustomed,

in a

massive stone structure,

as a protection from heat and stormy weather.

to visit the other parts of the house, since

about our

arts,

there

is

the apartments which

and you

If

you

like

you are curious

nothing to prevent you from seeing

I

think proper to show to persons of

Interiur uf luiiiau

discretion,

179

shall

House.

— Fiu.

62.

be shown through them.

me, have you heard any news of the

fleet

"

we sent into the western seas ? "None; for we do not come from

But

tell

of galleys which

that quarter,"

rriE fTABITATIONS "

Bad news has been brought

fishermen

;

OF MAN.

to the countr>' b}'

some

but nothing certain."

The proprietor having bidden a slave to go and acquaint the women of the presence of strangers, Epergos and Doxius (fig. •

by a portico

court surrounded

were admitted into the 62).

In the middle of the area

left

open

to the

sk}--

was a

whose waters poured into a basin, and into channels which conveyed them by conduits into the garden. The portico, constructed entirely of wood, was painted, like small fountain,

The

the front, in vivid colours.

the roofs,

fell

into the

rain-water, discharged from

Opening

middle of the court.

into

the court at the further end was the room where the family

assembled, portico.

— raised

Around

two steps above the pavement of the

this

covered with rich

room were seats, very low and wide, It was on these scats that persons

stuffs.

reclined to take their meals, which were served on small tables

placed before each guest.

Above

these seats of

was a wainscot, also covered with inlays very beautifully executed. This room was lighted onh' by the open part of the court and this

wood

inlaid with

ivory

and

silver,

;

reflected light

gave a brilliancy to the vivid colours of the

ceiling, the walls,

proprietor

many

Epergos asked the

and the wainscoting.

questions, to which he replied apathetically,

and without appearing much

by the admiration

flattered

expressed by his guest. " I see,"

he said at

last, "

these matters of art; repl}- to all }'our

I

that

will

you take a

lively interest in

send for Eudexion, who will

questions better than

I

could

;

when you

weary of interrogating him, you shall come and see the gardens." On this he beckoned to a slave, and told him to are

go immediately

in search

of the architect

;

then with a

friendh' gesture to the visitors, he went in the direction ot

the crardens.

THE lONIANS OF ASIA, Left alone with Doxius, Epergos said

member the habitation many centuries ago ? " "

Why

"

Because

this question

of old

"

:

Dost thou

Vamadeva/ which we

re-

visited

?

find a certain relationship

I

ETC.

between

this build-

ing and those houses of the ancient Aryas." "

A

"

By no means

merely fortuitous resemblance." :

there

is

had, like

this, its

ing shelter,

large anterior hall,

We

its

;

Vamadeva

of the old

court with surround-

place set apart for the altar of the gods and

its

valuable treasures, and "

nothing fortuitous in this world

The house

everything has a cause.

its

bedrooms round the

portico."

have seen halls and porticos everywhere

— and

sleeping rooms everywhere."

we saw in Kgypt and in Assyria had no resemblance with what we see here. This timber framing, these wooden posts, the arrangement of these " Certainly

joists,

:

but what

these doors narrowed at the top,

distribution of the apartments,

— even

— everything,

the general

in fact,

though

with greatly improved means of execution, reminds one of

Vamadeva's house, and not

at all of the palaces of the

Egyptian monarch and of the Assyrian king." "Well.'" "

Well

!

I

should conclude from this similarity to the

one, and want of resemblance to the

others, that the Ionian

peoples belong to a branch of the Aryas that has preserved,

almost "

If,

Aryan

intact, the

traditions."

as thou maintainest, there are races of

possessing special aptitudes,

how should

men, each

these tribes, so far

removed from the Upper Indus, have preserved those traditions more faithfully than those nearer to the plateaus of Central Asia "

" .'*

The Medes and

the Assyrians are certainly less distant

from those plateaus than are the lonians ^

.See

plan figure

1

8.

;

and thou

assert-

1

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

82

Assyrian dwellings

est that the

differ essentially

from the

habitations of those ancient Aryas." "

The Mcdes, and

blished in

especially the Assyrians, long esta-

territory

tiic

which they occupy,

under influences from the

j^eoples

whom

those regions, and with

the other hand journeyed very

who

may have come

previously inhabited

they intermixed

much

further,

;

these on

but not having

halted on their route, might have brought their ancient traditions as far as these shores where they have settled down. "

Perhaps at

who continue

this day,

among

the numerous emigrants

travelling westwards, following the shores of

some destined away from their

the Caspian and Euxine, there arc

to carry

those early traditions

point of

still

further

departure." " I

do not sec the

least

resemblance between these

lonians, with their slightl)' coppery skin, black hair and eyes,

and the

fair-haired

Aryas

so that the hallucination which

;

leads thee to believe in different races of men, will bring thee

here into contradiction with thy theory."

"Not

women

so fast:

purity of blood

"Ah

!

that

"Yes, the "

have already noticed

" It is

is

is

better preserved in

in this

country

that

is

I

Aryan

women

than

in

;

and

men."

another of thy fancies."

result of

But what

to the

I

with very white skin and fawn-coloured hair

my

observations."

the drift of

find

among

stock,

all this

" t

these populations which are akin

when they have been merged

in

too

powerful a current of another race, elements of progress

which charm

me and

fill

me

with hope

;

whereas,

an Egyptian or even an Assyrian dwelling,

I

may

if I visit

retain a

profound impression of admiration, but nothing seems to remain to be attempted, nothing to be added, nothing to

be modified."

"Which

is

nothing more nor

less

than

saying, that

THE lONIANS OF i:hings which are perfect

mieht become so? "

ASIA, ETC.

charm thee

less

183

than those which

"

Exactly."

''I

knew what was in thy mind but I am happy to it. Answer me in thy turn Dost thou

well

;

hear thee express

remember

:

day in the remote past when, seated on a mountain, we saw creatures armed with sticks, killing each other

that

.''

remember

"

Certainh',

"

Everything was duly ordered by the Creator

I

were perfect and complete

it."

dry land, ever}'thing being

in

Nature,

the place assigned

thee to teach

some

of these creatures

the Creator had not given them, as well as

what was suitable

it

:

no-

The fancy seized to make a hut, as if

thing was disturbing the supreme law.

"

things

all

and productive, was peopling the waters and the

tranquil

beings,

;

the work was finished.

;

all

animated

to their kind,

Since then these creatures have called themselves men

urged on by a

minates selves

;

in

spirit

thee

falling

of infatuation

—that

spirit

;

which predo-

— they have not been able to restrain them-

one upon another, the hungry upon the

who had

the poor upon those

possessions,

full,

have

they

despoiled and hunted one another without truce or

rest.

Subsequently we have seen the strongest and most nume-

making them work to inthy hut of branches has become a

rous enslaving the weakest, and crease their comforts

;

house provided with everything,

— even

with slaves.

The

house has become a palace the palace has been surrounded ;

with defensive walls the more have

around.

And

;

and the greater the increase of

cupidity, envy,

so

we have seen

luxur}',

and hatred accumulated the inhabitants of the huts

uniting to overthrow the palace, and the towns and palaces uniting to get possession of countries more rich in palaces

and houses than progress

their own.

Is

that

what thou

callest

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

i84 "I

hear thcc express this indignation, Doxius

like to

but hearken.

Is

spark that

it tlie

is

combustible materials?'

flagration, or the accunuilation of I

admit that

have been and that

I

would become of

spark

this

materials in the spot where

how to they make

if

am

I

the spark

;

but what

did not find inflammable

it

falls

it

;

the cause of the con-

Were

?

I

show the

to

swallows

build nests of a different structure from

those

at present, they

tinue to fabricate the

Thou

at the eaves.

little

would none the

we

dwellings which

canst not but agree with

less

con-

see hanging

me

that man's

him to improve upon and alter the proadopted by his predecessors. The Creator, since

intelligence leads

cesses

Him

thou bringest it

should be so

question, has probably willed that

in

consequently,

;

our efforts should tend to

all

man

hasten this advance towards that better to which

work arrested in a path that has no issue, I may consider this work good in itself; it excites my curiosity and admiration but it rouses in me no enthusiasm; aspires.

If

see man's

I

;

it

docs not create

tion, since

it

comparison

:

in

me

the desire to aid in

when

I

transforma-

;

but

it

Well, then

industry.

their

dwellings of the HgN'ptians,

markable

;

but

thing which

is

when

I

find

perfect,

I

am

mode visit

them admirable and

all

if

you

that

it

will,

but which

can express.

of the re-

myself among men

find

obtained, but suggests to

more

ous, proportions :

here,

me

like these.

me by

hope

What we the result

more ingeniand harmonies more pleas-

conceptions

delicate, I

— as finished

It is quite diffe-

have before our eyes, not only charms

In a word

my

do not see how to transform or modify a

I

already expresses rent

I

when

!

I

does not occur to

to suggest to the bees a better or a different

employing

ing.

its

to revert to

consider the work of the bees,

struck with Avonder, and delighted

me

And

cannot be transformed.

;

here

I

still

feel

with the desire of making improvements.

myself seized

In those

Egyp-

THE lONIANS OF ASIA, and even

tian palaces,

in

ETC.

the Assyrian, there comes over

a sense of weariness and discouragement;

be no change revival

in

them, should these nations

hoped

to be

is

once cut down,

will

for there

we have

;

;

but observe,

also,

one to seek new ones,

late

" Is this

work

for there

last for ever.

a tree

me

could

No

whose trunk,

throw out no fresh shoots.

See how ingeniously the timbers of

"

arranged

185

how

more ingenious.

still

however

perfect,

simple majesty of Egyptian

framing are

this

these combinations stimu-

.''

No

it

;

has not the

nor the sturdy strength

art,

and indestructible aspect of the Assyrian buildings, but it ; one feels that here every workman must have con-

speaks

tributed his share of intelligence, and has

of his labour. effort of

We

left

do not behold here, as

the imprint

in Assyria, the

beings in vast numbers acting mechanically under

the master's rod, and piling up materials without knowing

what the result will be. Here each one must have worked with the consciousness of a motive for his labour, and

in

view of the

view

this

Dost thou not appreciate

final result.

.-'

"I cannot share an opinion which appears to

me

danger-

deem wise not him who is continually seeking, but him who having found the good, is concerned only how to preserve it." " But if thy opinion had been accepted ever since men have been upon the earth, the whole human race would be however seductive.

ous,

I

living scarcely sheltered

on roots and

me

for

having

reptiles

;

under

trees,

in the earliest

and would be feeding

now thou wert reproaching

for just

ages taught a few savages the

art of building themselves huts."

"Mischief was already done

how

to stop

confusion.

;

but the wise should

on an incline which I

like the Egyptians,,

is

know

leading to the abyss of

because they were able to

halt after having reached a wonderful degree of civilisation.

1

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

86

"What is progress, What is wisdom, if it preserving gress, I

is,

not the socking for a good?

is

not the keeping of this good, and

is

from every attack

it

a restless advance

is

do not

view

if it

word

like the

then, that

—

when

have been ascended,

it

;

my

What

?

thou callest pro-

idea of progress

does not express

my

.

it is

(but

,

my

summit

the steps that lead to the

advisable to stop at that summit;

down again " go down again to reach a summit

otherwise there must be a going "

.

notion)

.

!

.

.

farther Yes better off and still higher, than halt for to halt is to die, and though man is destined to repose in death, such is not the :

;

destiny of humanit}'."

At

this

off

by the

admiring the residence thou hast built

for that

point

the

discussion

was broken

entrance of the architect Eudexion.

"We were

wealthy personage,

whom

kind enough to send everything here

is

the gods protect.

for thee to satisfy

new

He

has been

our curiosity

to us," said Epergos.

"

;

for

Wilt thou

please to enlighten us ?"

"This habitation," answered Eudexion, others,

and

I

"

resembles

many

do not claim to have done anj-thing more

than conform to the customs of Ionia."

"That may be; but we have nowhere else observed art of framing timber; whence did )'ou derive it?" " Formerl}-,

as our elders

abundance of timber

relate,

there being a great

the countrj-, our fathers constructed

in

dwellings entirely composed of trunks of trees.

neighbours, the Tyrrhenians, built and lings with large stones,

The

this

which they

still

But our

build their dyvel-

skilfully joint

and work.

employment of these solid and durable materials has

been gradually adopted living in timber houses

to allow of

its

nevertheless the custom of b}- us was too general among the lonians ;

being abandoned.

W^e have therefore amal-

gamated the two systems, and ceasing

to treat timber

THE lONIANS OF

ASIA, ETC.

except as material which had to be inhabitants,

we have encased

left in

187

contact with the

this structure with stone, of

which the walls and the most

parts are composed.

solid

That is why you see our walls covered on the inside with wooden panelling. Columns, linings, and window frames of wood, such as these, were

roughly executed a century

all

now we have

workmen. First the unhewn posts were squared then the angles were taken off, and in this way these many-sided columns came to be fashioned. The rude caps which were placed on the top or so ago

;

but

skilful

;

of these posts, to relieve the bearing of the beams, were

carved at the ends as it.

you

see,

As

in volutes.

with painting,

\\

The whole has been

hich beautifies and preserves

regards the roofs and ceilings,

them of wood

;

covered,

we continue

to

make

though giving them a more and more

ele-

may suggest, and them with painting and even gilding. "To prevent these wooden columns from being affected at their lower extremity by the dampness of the soil, we place them on stone bases. In short, these new buildings are like those much older ones which you may still see in the country, and affect nothing more than to reproduce the older arrangements with more elegance and studied refinement in the execution of the details. We have the art of gant appearance, as the taste of each enriching

working metals

tin,

all

copper,

silver,

and gold, and giving

to these

workmen choose to adopt woodwork and furniture have been

the forms which the

you will observe how the

enriched with delicate ornamentation over, not very long since

walls with plaster.

We

we began

in

metal.

It

is,

to overlay the

morerough

derived this art from the countries

of the East, where they burn stone to

mixed with sand, enables us well adapted for painting on.

to get the

We

make

lime, which,

smooth surfaces so

even apply a

ver}^ light

coating of this lime, ground up with the fine dust of hard

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

1 88

stone or fine sand, upon our timber work, to preserve

it

from the action of the sun, and as a surface for painting

;

but this requires great care."

"And what wood do you employ thus?" " Cedar, cypress,

and s\'camore

beginning to become

wood

these kinds of

;

are

and already some wealthy

rarer,

persons have had columns cut in blocks of stone, exactly

made

adhering to the form of those

come when

The day

of wood.

the cappings also will be cut in stone

nothing to prevent this; but they must be to avoid their breaking

there

;

Would you

like to

inspect one of the bedchambers, while the family are ?

"

"You

"

With

This doorway

air.

in

the

pleasure."

observe that these chambers, which are small,

receive light only

the door

is

less projecting,

under the superimposed weight, for

stone has not the flexibility of wood.

garden

will

may

Each

is

by the doorway opening under the portico. closed by a wooden leaf and a curtain

;

therefore be

of these

open

left

chambers has a

at night to

admit fresh

ceiling of coloured

wood

the walls have their upper parts painted, and are wainscoted

A

below with costly wood.

bedstead, likewise of

laid with ivory, occupies the further

At

the side

is

wood

in-

end of the chamber.

a small table and a stool.

The

with mats very finely worked, and a lamp

floor is

is

covered

placed on a

bronze support." "

Contact with stone

" Certainly

;'

and

is

this,

manifestly avoided everywhere." as

I

was observing,

the long-continued habit of living of wood.

from

made

Besides, in this country, contact with stone

insalubrious, "

among

results

dwellings

and occasions pains

is

in the limbs.

To show you how careful we are

in this respect,

observe

those windows which light the two entrance-halls of the outer front. constructed.

Examine

(fig.

(il)

how

these openings are

THE lONIANS OF ASIA, "

and

The window forms consists of

ETC.

189

a box-frame built into the opening-,

two uprights

Window

two cross-pieces

A,

of Ionian House.

either side three tie-pieces C,

B,

and on

Fig. 63.

which constitute the thickness

of the stone wall, and are framed into other uprights on the inside. "

the

The

interspaces

soffit

and the

D

are filled

sill.

A

by wooden

cross-frame divides the

into four parts, in each of which

Thus the hand never comes The.se window-frames

panels, as well as

is

in

window

hinged a latticed sash

E.

contact with the stone.

have the additional advantage of

THE HAJUTATIONS OF MAN.

iQo

keeping up the irregular masonry which surrounds them.

The

beams

pieces f form cciHng

projecting outside and

carrying the plate G, which receives the rafters of the roof

— simple

round poles upon which, are nailed the planks

covered with are glazed readily,

The

b\'

compose the

that

tiles

to

fire

make

roofing.

These

tiles

the rain water run off more

and to prevent the dust from remaining on them.

roofings thus formed presenting clear and brilliant

colours,

and shining

in

the sun like gold or

are plea-

silver,

sant to the sight, and prevent the heat from penetrating as it

would " I

if

the tiles w^ere unglazed."

see that every arrangement has been

Do

dwellings agreeable and healthy.

these

made

to render

they never

build in this country with unburnt brick or clay as in Assyria "

and Egypt?"

No, never

;

because we have violent rains that

weeks, and the ground

"Our timber

is

often shaken

constructions

last

some

by earthquakes.

surrounded by stone are

proof against these shocks, and prevent the

damp from

penetrating into the interior.

"You

will

understand that these coffers of wood and

beams support the walls, and prevent them from disuniting.

Look how securely the portal is supported by this timber The two ends of the walls cannot stir, strongly

screen.

stayed as they

are,

and kept

in

Formerly

place everywhere.

walls of unburnt brick were built in our country as

by

the Medes, but they were soon injured fell

"

among

the damp, and

to pieces at the least agitation of the ground."

But

if

timber should

fail,

could you not employ stone,

not only for your columns and points of support, but also for lintels

and cornices

?

"

"

Probably

:

not been obliged to do so; moreover, as

we have before, we

hitherto I

said

prefer to avoid contact with stone in our dwellings, shall

always be obliged,

in

and we

conformity with local usage, to

line the interior surbases. at least, with

wood."

THE lONIANS OF At

ASIA, ETC.

this point in the conversation, the

191

master of the house

joined the three interlocutors, and asked them to go into

Shaded by the glossy

the garden.

foliage of lemon-trees,

and reclining on a carpet spread over a very

light

bronze

couch, was the mistress of the house, surrounded by three little

boys.

A female slave of the Semitic race was waving a

large fan of palm-leaves over the head of her mistress

another woman, seated at her the children,

A

who were

;

while

was singing to amuse

feet,

listening attentively.

was

rivulet, clear as crystal,

rippling along a channel

hollowed out of the trunk of a

tree,

and, separating into

small irrigation trenches, was lost amid the grass and flowers.

The

mistress

was

attired in a long white robe,

in brilliant colours, slit

on both

A

rous delicate folds.

embroidered

falling in

was adorned witha wide, rich, gold

Her

;

nume-

enveloped

closely-fitting corsage

the bust, reaching as far as the hip

wise over the breast.

and

sides,

the neck was bare, and

collar,

hair, of a

which

fell

crescent-

dark fawn colour,

fell

over her shoulders in long and luxuriant tresses, and a coiffure of transparent tissue, in

which gold threads were

interwoven, surrounded her head. cled her bare arms.

On

Bracelets of gold encir-

seeing Eudexion and the visitors

approach, she smiled courteously; then addressing the architect,

she said to him in a tone of indifference

not visited the treasurer's house

"It

is

large

covered with

and

beautiful,

fi.nely- wrought

from various quarters

Egyptian

bronzes, light,

;

:

"

Hast thou

" }

adorned with stone columns,

sculpture,

and many ornaments

you see Median vases, Tyrrhenian and Assyrian carpets, and

statues,

transparent hangings placed over the area of the

courts." " Is it

not shameful to

when one "

These

is

make such

entrusted with the public

articles are presents

a display of luxury,

money } "

from the merchants

sideration of a remission of duties.

It is

in

con-

a mere tasteless

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

192

accumulation

and

;

prefer this house,

I

in the place suited for

and costly

rare "

where everything though

to that one, filled

it is

;

built

"

"

yourself?

tiiis

No

but be-

;

has been arranged by a mistress of refined

it

is

with

objects."

Yes because you

cause

it,

and who can appreciate things

taste,

at their right value."

The lady smiled at this compliment, and addressing the " What do you think of Ionia, visitors said you who come from such remote parts, and have visited so many

—

:

countries

"that

?

" It

"

seems to

us,"

Epergos hastened to

reply,

the most beautiful country in the world, and in-

it is

habited by the most amiable and polished of nations."

"Thou flattcrcst me but never mind, for flattery is sweet when it is addressed to the country one loves." " And which is the envy of so many enemies," replied the master "for while we have to struggle with the Pelasgi, these strangers ;

;

announce an invasion of barbarians from the north-eastern " Indeed,"

mountains." "

"

wife.

Oh

!

"

said

you need not be anxious the lonians will not fight these barbarians until your children themselves

Epergos,

have to shall

responded his

have

;

left

the earth."

The lady became

A

pensive.

murmur

of voices was

heard without, and a slave came and whispered some words in the car of his master,

who immediately directed his

towards the entrance of the house.

"What

is

women.

then.''" said the beautiful Ionian addressing her *'

Some

Evidently

people on business," replied the singer.

Her husband,

disquieted, the mistress of the house arose.

pale and tottering, was re-entering the garden.

questioning looks of his wife his only reply was priests of Poseidon.

.

.

the fleet does not return.

are wanted to appease the god." "

Ah

!

"

Ten

"

And

and what victims

" .''

children of noble birth." .

.

.

thev are asking

for thine

."

.''

.

steps

the matter,

.

.

:

To

the

"

The

.victims

THE lONIANS OF ASIA, "

For one

"

Why

ETC.

193

" !

not for

now rousing and with an instinctive movement "

three

all

herself like a lioness,

said the mother,

!

enveloping her children in her long robe.

Overwhelmed with sorrow, his eyes fixed on the ground, his arms falling forwards, the master seemed incapable

and

And thou hast told these continued his wife, " that thy child was here, "

of a suggestion or a reply. priests,"

.

.

.

him up to them, But answer then

that thou wouldst give

hast said that

?

.

.

.

—

!

three didst thou point out?

decorate him for sacrifice

"I could say nothing

?

—

.

.

Which

.

.

not so

thou

?

which of the

.

.

Must

.

Which

?

could

I

.

Say!

.

is it

not

I

" ?

not answer

.

.

the

.

priests are waiting." "

Well

choose then

!

!

"

and with a hasty movement she

pushed forward her children, who uttering cries of terror and grief.

ing herself on these three

fell

at their father's feet,

But immediately throw-

her bare arms, and pressing them to her bosom

may come and

that they

have four

Go and

"

embrace, she added,

for the

;

tell

in

a stifling

the priests of Poseidon

take their victims,

— they

shall

to look

upon the scene

as

if

he were

apathy and the vague expression of

his

in

one they ask."

The master seemed a stranger

them up

creatures, taking

little

his

features contrasted with the violent gestures and the infu-

looks of the

riated at

some distance

mistress.

off,

.

,

.

Epergos and Doxius,

were inquiring of the slave the cause

of the trouble that had so suddenly befallen this family, so tranquil a few it

so

"

said Doxius.

!

clenched his "

Come

!

slumber,

wards

moments

fists.

" said

" If the

before.

Epergos shrugged Outside the

the master, as

"we must have done

if

gods

will

have

his shoulders

murmur was

and

increasing.

waking up from a heavy

with it!"

his wife with his eyes closed,

And

going to-

he took at hazard the

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

194

arm

of one of his children.

go,

and seeming- calmed

him, and

No

the poor

let

little

creature

once, followed her hus-

Arrived at the garden-gate, she placed herself before

band. "

She all at

!

others

"

then, shrieking, seized said she, " not

Doricmes

the ;

once

child

more.

take one of the two

" .

!

.

.

The gods have decided it." " Not Doricmes it shall not be Doricmes

"

!

;

"

"

Silence,

Well

And

!

woman

the gods have decided

;

take him then

;

it."

and woe be to thee

" !

while the father was entering the passage which

conducted to the court, the mother, with dishevelled hair

and

furious mien, returned to her

two other children who

the hands of the

women, snatched them

had remained

in

and regained the house. Next day this beautiful dwelling was a heap of cinders. Maddened by grief, and accusing the gods, their priests, and

hastih- away,

her husband, the wretched mother, after having suffocated

own hand them in their

with her

the two children that remained to her,

laid

little

beds, heaped around

playthings, their clothes, and

and

its

them

their

that belonged to them,

pyre of souvenirs. ...

set fire to this

On

all

smoking ruins the master was received by a fuiy " Doricmes will have had

with the reiterated exclamation

a splendid funeral

:

" !

Asiatic Ionian

CHAPTER

XXVII.

THE HELLENES.

THE

surge of

Aryan emigration was

rolling ever west-

wards, and numerous tribes belonging to this race had established themselves on the plateaus of Thessaly, Epirus, and Thrace. Energetic, hardy, and intrepid, they took possession of the countries already occupied

mingled with the Hellenes, the

latter,

by the

Pelasgi,

became

and occupied, under the name of

countries situated

between Thessaly and

Peloponnesus, part of the islands of the Archipelago, and

even some

districts of

Asia Minor.

Divided into four great branches, the Hellenes com-

and the European lonians. Arts, commerce, manufactures, and agriculture soon attained a most extraordinary development among these

prised the Achaeans, the vEolians, the Dorians,

active

gions

and warlike peoples, when they had

settled in those re-

— so favourable to the increase of wealth of

all

which had been previously occupied by the Pelasgi. the cities which rose on the Hellenic

soil,

its

commerce, and the singular aptitude of

for

works of

its

its

its

marine,

inhabitants

of every description.

Destroyed by the Persians, its

Among

Athens acquired

a marked preponderance from the importance of

skill

kinds

it

speedily rose again from

more beautiful and glorious than before. Around Acropolis covered by sacred buildings, the city extended ruins

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

196

far

and wide, with

and

temples,

its

public places and edifices,

houses intermingled with verdure.

its

No

its

city displayed greater activity

ing from Asia

coming

into

it

an

seemed as

if

in

;

for

Possessing, at the epoch of

ants' nest.

greatest power, the three ports of Munychia,

the Piraeus,

it

any one com-

entering Athens he was its

Phalerum and

covered a district whose circumference mea-

sured two hundred stadia (twenty-four miles).

But

it

around the Acropolis that the houses were crowded gether and the population always in activity.

was to-

There wag-

gons were passing to and

fro, filled

with merchandise from

the ports or conveying

thither.

The

it

streets

and public

places in which people passed their lives presented a busy

and noisy scene.

who came

Strangers,

to

buy or

to

sell,

were continually entering or leaving the shops and places of manufacture, and slaves were carrying messages or burdens.

Women

as well as

men were

to be seen in the streets,

going to the markets, the public games and the meetings of corporate bodies.

From

the earliest hours of the daylarge

numbers of peasants might be seen bringing in vegetables, fruit, and poultry, and crying their wares in the streets. Houses of the higher class occupied the second zone ;

they generally possessed a garden and sometimes outbuild-

Around them were to be seen clients and parasites, waiting for the hour when the master should make his appearance and whiling away the time ings of considerable extent.

;

in

discussing the news of the day, repeating the rumours,

true or false, that were current in the city to talk,

that

;

getting the slaves

and laughing among themselves at the strangers

happened to be passing, or addressing them with a

view to make fun of their accent, garb or dress.

The house zone,

of Chremylus, recently built in that second

was a subject of remark

who had

lately

for all the idlers.

Chremylus,

become wealthy by means of commerce,

THE HELLENES.

197

and of certain transactions of a more or

less creditable

character in the colonies, was an object of envy and

cism to most people, and of admiration for some

and energy.

justice to his intelligence

degree of influence liberality

;

He enjoyed

in the public assemblies

criti-

who

did

a certain

— thanks to

his

while he took care to secure the good graces of

the archons and to enrich the temples.

We

have

64) the ground-plan of the residence of

(fig.

Athenian

this

The entrance X opens on

citizen.

The

the pub-

bounded on either side by narrow This entrance X opens on the court O, which is streets. surrounded by porticos. At A is the porter's lodge, and at lic

road.

site

is

B the rooms for the slaves, with kitchen at C and latrines

From

at a.

which

this first court, in the centre of

is

a

small fountain with a basin which receives the rain water,

the passage

and

is

D

leads into the inner court E, which

H

tion-room, at

the

is

a large storeroom containing provi-

and wine and

at

I

;

the small dining-room itricliniuni)

the cooking-room for the family being at b.

larger

At F

private altar. sions

is

by porticos. At G is the recepstrong room for valuables, and at S the

likewise surrounded

The

large triclinium

is

at K.

to the gyiiczceiLin^ containing

common room

J

;

with latrines at

The passage

m

admits

the bedrooms P along the

women, with its small enclosed garden, and closets at e. The quarters for visitors are entered by the passage t, and consist of bedrooms V, a portico M, a

portico T, a small garden

for the

into the lane for the servants,

extend

in the direction

This house

is

At d is an opening when required. The gardens

and closets/.

Z.

situated on the slopes of the hill which to

the south-west looks towards the Acropolis

;

thus

it

is

sheltered from the violent winds which sometimes blow

from

this quarter.

From

the large dining-hall and from the terrace L, which

19S

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

Plan of Athenian House.

Fig. 64.

THE HELLENES. adjoins

there

it,

a charming prospect

is

of the garden

trees

this terrace

L there

left

is

The

about twelve steps.

winds.

From

above the

the

hill

of the Areopagus.

a descent to the garden by

was chosen with a view heat and the troublesome

position

to protection against the sun's

hills

for,

;

seen the city overlooked by the

is

Acropolis, and towards the

From

199

the portico of the gynaeceum are seen the

extending towards the north, covered with houses

surrounded by olive-trees Pentelicus,

;

and

in the

background Mount

whose bare and rugged flanks present the

changing colours of the opal. In the dwelling of Chremylus the various departments

were arranged at the proprietor's discretion, and the architect only

conformed

part of the house

is

to

give an account of the commissions they

have executed, or to receive orders. to speak to one of them, he takes

room

;

his

bedchamber being

women and younger

If

first

is

into his reception-

he can easily repair

gynseceum reserved

for

children.

off,

not being in communication with

court except through the passage

consecrated to

/.

All that part

beyond the wide entrance-hall domestic life and only the intimate

of the habitation which

D

him

master wishes

he entertain friends, they have their separate apart-

ments, which are shut the

If the

at R,

to that reception-room or to the

the

front

In this court O assemble the agents or factors

the owner.

who come

Thus the

to his instructions.

assigned to the external relations of

is

;

friends of the family are admitted into the second court; for

example,

if

they are invited to a banquet,

— which

is

held in the great hall K.

The master usually takes his meals one or two members of his famil}- who in the smaller

room

l,

with his wife and live in

the house,

the couches of which will hold six

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN. persons

;

whereas

fifteen guests

can be accommodated on

the couches of the great hall K.

Chremylus has spared nothing to render his house one The columns of most sumptuous in the city.

of the

Pentelican marble support architraves of wood, surmounted

by

and cornices overlaid with stucco and ornamented

friezes

Everywhere the walls arc coated and the

with delicate painting.

with fine smooth plaster, adorned with paintings

Epergos,

who on

had sojourned

several occasions

considerable time, in Hellas (for he liked

than any other he had

had not a

visited),

;

wrought and coloured.

ceilings are of timber artistically

its

for a

people more

little

contributed

to the progress of the arts and of manufacturing industry

among

the Athenians

while Doxius had remained nearly

;

He had

the whole time in Assyria and Egypt.

the

fall

rians,

witnessed

of Nineveh, the war of the Persians with the Assy-

and the termination of

was subjugated by Cyrus. to meet his

companion

of his criticisms on striving populations,

in Hellas,

all

empire which

this powerful

When Doxius

had happened

he had not been sparing

he saw done among

its

active

and

which were constantly changing their

government, and inclined to free themselves from their traditions.

whom

He had

predicted the ruin of the Hellenes,,

he regarded as unruly children, always citing Egypt

and Asia as the sources of

all wisdom though Egypt was and the Median empire was crumbling So during one of the last visits which Doxius ;

visibly declining

to pieces.

paid

to

Athens, after

its

destruction

by the army of

Xerxes, he was endeavouring to induce Epergos to quit for ever

these devastated

shores

;

but Epergos,

full

of

confidence in the genius of his friends the Athenians, set to

work again with them to

restore the

had formerly aided the Aryan

down by

the tempest.

burned

city, as

to restore his hut

he

thrown

Resides, Epergos liked discussion,.

THE HELLENES. and for

many

no other country had he had so

in

opportunities

as at Athens.

it

When

the Hellenes began to occupy a large part of

Greece, after having subjugated the Pelasgi, they brought

with them notions of arts of a very rude character, borrowed

The

from Asia.

Pelasgi,

on their

we have

structures of which

had made but

part,

when they

progress since the time

little

massive

built those

But the

seen a specimen.^

various relations which were soon established between the

Hellenes, the lonians, and the Lycians of the coasts of Asia, gave to the

were

like those

first

the notions of art in which they

They began

deficient.

therefore to build habitations

of their Asiatic neighbours, while preserving

Wood

something of Pelasgic customs. ing was however by no

suitable for build-

means abundant

in

Greek lands,

while there was a profusion of calcareous stone of rare beauty.

They began

capitals of stone or

therefore to substitute columns and

marble

for those of

then led to give these capitals a

than the lonians gave them, their burden.

much

lest

wood

they should break under

Their general form was however retained,

wood terminated by volutes and these For a long time, howthe name " Ionic."

that of a capital in capitals retained ever,

and were

;

smaller development

;

they contented themselves with this modification

in-

duced by the change of the material.

We

cannot say whether

it

was Epergos who

first

pointed

— a branch of the Hellenes, as stated — the want of relation between the form of Ionic capital and the material thenceforth employed — namely, out to the Dorians, above,

calcareous stone.

this

Certain

it is,

however, that these Dorians,

induced by considerations of this nature, abandoned the traditional form of the

wooden

capitals to adopt a

springing from the use of stone. ^

new one

There must have been

See figures 56, 57, and

58.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

202

long discussions on this question

may

Hellas, though they

reason triumphed

;

among

the architects of

not have been preserved

but

:

the Ionic capital, derived from that of

wood, was abandoned, and that which was adopted took

name

"

Doric."

This sturdy

capital,

the

of

which projected considerably beyond

the shaft of the column received a finer profile

;

in its original

form, gradually

and, at the time

when Chremylus

had his house built, the Doric capital already presented the most delicate outline. Chremylus had an esteem for Epergos, and had often consulted him while his house was being built so when it was finished, and he had begun to live in it, he resolved to assemble some of his friends at a banquet within its walls :

;

for the

Athenians highly prize the pleasures of the triclinium,

when shared with

intelligent persons

whose conversation

is

worth hearing.

Chremylus had the selected

them with

art of enlivening his guests

care,

and

set

;

having

them talking on a sub-

ject adapted to excite their enthusiasm, he would, as a

man

of intelligence, be silent himself, and leave

discussion.

them

to the

If the conversation languished, or a loss of

per was impending, he would politely revive pleasant turn to acrid debate.

Any

it

tem-

or give a

one who was a guest

of Chremylus considered himself fortunate, for they were

chosen from the most refined society of Athens. this

was not the

least

of which the envious

of those occasions

made

And

of jealousy

a handle against the wealthy

parvenu.

For

this inauguration

banquet the house had been deco-

rated with care, and the gardens

filled

with flowers.

The

guests arrived in the afternoon, elegantly apparelled, and

met beneath the first portico. There were ten of them for Chremylus was of opinion that for the party to be a pleasant ;

THE HELLENES. one

this

number should not be exceeded. They were no and among them were two philo-

strangers to each other

sophers of

;

high repute

two archons, a celebrated and Doxius. to be

203

It

in

Athens, a dramatic author,

painter, the architect,

was not the custom

present at banquets.

at that

Without keeping

Interior of Athenian House.

Epergos

time for

women

his guests

Fig. 65.

when he knew that they were assembled, came to receive them under the first portico, and introduced them into the second court, separated from the

waiting, Chremylus,

first

by curtains woven

in lively colours.

This second court.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

204

also surrounded

by

porticos supported

white marble, more spacious than the

by Doric columns of first,

afforded a view

of the gardens and the city above them, through the

Towards the extremity of

colonnade at the further end.'

the open part of the court was a marble fountain with

an agreeable freshness (fig

basin, diffusing

65).

way from

two-thirds of the

finely fluted

coloured red on the lower part, which was

its

The columns, the top, were

left

smooth; while

the marble of the upper part was slightly tinted with a very pale yellow enriched with black and white ornamentation

under the ovolo of the

The

capital.

architrave,

composed

of pieces of cedar coupled together, was covered with a plaster coating as thin as an Q'g^ shell,

The

yellow.

and also coloured

was composed of triglyphs over each

frieze

— triglyphs which were only the ends of the beams

column

supporting the joists of the ceiling of the porticos

between them

fillings in

;

and

of thick planks of cedar covered

Next came the

with a delicately painted plaster coating.

projecting cornice, likewise of wood, carrying the gutter

made

of coloured terra cotta, which was pierced with several

openings to

mounted painted

let

the rain water through, and which was sur-

by carved heads in

light

The

of animals.

blue, contrasted with the

triglyphs,

tints

of the

decorations near them, which were in red, black, and white,

on a yellow ground.

The

brilliancy of the sunlight

and the azure of the sky

wonderfully harmonised this light and transparent colouring, set off

by the red and dark yellow background of the

portico walls.

The

guests did not

the architect

;

for

fail

to congratulate

they knew

had a great esteem for him. " address your compliments to ^

Chremylus and

the master of the house

tliat "

Yes,"

this

said

Chremylus,

good Eicos,

See the plan, figure 64.

for

I

have

THE HELLENES. sometimes made him very angry sive

!

that

is

my

.

— representing

the god Pan

but he

.

is

so expen-

excuse,"

After they had admired the triclinium

.

205

young

paintings of the small

girls

bringing offerings to

—and the refined beauty of the bronze couches,

with silver, they repaired to the garden which Chremylus had improvised. He had had trenches sunk in the living rock and filled with vegetable soil. There

inlaid

and the lemon-tree, rose-trees and

flourished the orange

and a profusion of aromatic

laurels,

Not only

plants.

so

great expense the master had had transplanted thither

grown

olives, fig-trees

and

;

at

full-

plane-trees.

Small channels nicely hollowed out

in

marble distributed

the water in every direction, and slaves were constantly

engaged

When

keeping the walks and shrubs

in

in order.

the supper was ready, they repaired to the larger

where each took his place (fig 66). The viands and wines were immediately brought by young slaves, the best to be found in Athens; whilst two flute-players, moving triclinium,

backwards and forwards hall, filled

lively

and

in the

gardens before the

now

the air with melodies

soft

and

festal

slow,

now

spirited.

Soon, thanks to the flagons of excellent Lesbian, the conversation became animated. " I

regard Athens as the queen of

''What

is

tedious

ceremonial,

the

magnificence of

compared

cities," said

the

to

Epergos.

Persians with

the

its

enjoyed

liberty

here?" "Licence," said Doxius.

"What," said Epergos, to provoke

his

companion, "are

those Egyptian banquets amid which a cofiin

about —

to

induce

the

guests

(say the

is

carried

inhabitants

of

Memphis) to be more eager in the enjoyment of the good things of earth and during which all the talk is of

—

THE HABITATJONS OF MAN.

206

bags of wheat and flocks of geese, compared with these social gatherings, in which one can scarcely say which is to be preferred, the

good cheer or the conversation

The Large

give

me some more

old wine

"By

—

'tis

Boy

Fig. 66.

of that partridge stewed in the lees of

a dish

Bacchus,"

Triclinium.

?

fit

for the

gods

said Doxius,

" !

"take care of thy

wits,

Epergos."

"Nonsense, Doxius!

my

ideas are as clear as this air

THE HELLENES. which allows us to see from

207

this spot

the

sentinels

oi>

interrupted one of the philosophers, "can

we

the ramparts of the Acropolis."

"Ah!"

ever affirm that

we

"I fancy so at

thou wilt allow that

it

we

the gods

all

it

;

does

here

!

me

.

" Therefore,

and takes again

for

"

!

only an appearance

is

" }

a cup

is

— and

it is

full

I

:

drink what

the cup

emptied

is

thy mind that experiences

granted

this

.

,

my

;

;

is

.

.

good

fellow,

.

Distasis off shall

house and couches and garden,

let

me

the

;

!

,

.

.

on appearances,

live

nothing but appearance

is

a

there-

Give him something to drink, or we

.

everything but himself, will have vanished, and

there

it

me

this pleasure

— nothing more."

good

said the other philosopher, "there

tumble into annihilation Well,

\

Art thou certain

."

.

"Ah!

friend; but

a great deal of good and gives

great deal of pleasure fore

see

good

really exists.

even of thy own existence

By

my

Epergos,

so, all

nothing proves that

contains

?

least."

"Yes, thou fanciest

"

"

see a thing

if

name makes no

difference to the thing." " is

But

does

it

make

a great difference

only an appearance residing

;

for if all

own

our

in

spirits,

we

see

a product

own mind, nothing exists but mind." "Yes it is all very well to say so after a good

of our

;

but

if

dinner

within twenty-four hours hence thou shouldst not

find the

appearance of a glass of wine and a

to repair thy appearance of a body,

I

slice

of

should like to

ham know

what would become of thy mind " Is it not more correct to say that the soul is only the harmony established by our organs duly performing their !

functions

.''

If

judge of things

thou hast caught a in the

same way

as

fever, if

does thy mind

thou wert

in

health

.'*

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

2o8

And

docs not an appearance of a stone falling on thy

appearance of a skull send thy mind packing?" "

Packing where

"Who frog!

can

perhaps into the

tell!

appearance of

a

."

.

.

" ?

"Come, do not discompose

thyself;

drink Chrcmylus'

health with me." "

"Well!

said Epergos, "if

we

let

our two philosophers

get wrangling on this ground, what shall

One wants

to persuade us that there

in the world,

we come

beautiful ceiling

what we sec

to

!

how

grateful

clearly. is

it

?

their time in

Let us hold by sound reason,

skin.

and keep

to

but a single soul

and the other that souls pass

changing their please,

is

.

.

.

to the eye,

if

you

What a and how

refreshing to be cool while this opening gives us a view

of the horizon

all

burning with

perfumes of the garden.

light,

Mayst

and admits to us the

thou, Chremylus, long

enjoy these good things thyself and make thy friends partakers of thy happiness the architect, "tell for

But," said he, addressing

!

doing everything

in the

not thou

make

just walking, of marble "

money

—

"Yet,

humour

why

didst

the entablatures of the porticos under which

replied Eicos, "

columns

in building

in the

very best manner,

we were

"Why!

thou wert

us, Eicos, since

in

" ?

Chremylus considered that even

marble

I

was spending too much

in fact, ruining him."

in

your temples," continued Epergos,

"among

all

the Dorians, you put entablatures of stone upon columns

of the same material

and these entablatures do not

differ

sensibly in appearance from those which thou hast

made

here of wood.

Is

;

it

logically consistent to give similar

forms to architectural members made of different materials

Among materials

}

Medes and in Ionia, I observed that the employed dictated the form adopted in the

the

THE HELLENES.

209

am

not finding fault

Understand me

architecture.

I

:

with thy porticos, which are admirable; but

I

should be

glad to hear what thou hast to say on the subject."

"Thou knowest more about the matter than I do, Epergos but thou wishest to make me talk the question ;

is

:

a complicated one, however, and

tire

I

am

afraid

should

I

you."

"By no

means," said the guests, "there

always some-

is

thing good to be got from a discussion between clever

people

:

go on therefore."

"Let me have a

Chremylus

tablet, then,

;

cannot

for I

explain myself without the help of a drawing."

One

of the slaves having brought one of those boards

painted

which

on

white,

merchants

reckon

up

their

accounts, and a piece of black stone, Eicos drew in a few

minutes the two diagrams

(fig.

6^^

;

then, having given the

board to the slave to hold, so that every one could see "

Those who have

it,

he spoke thus

:

ture adopted

by the Dorians, perhaps know from what a

on the architec-

reflected

variety of sources they have derived the elements of their

Epergos,

architecture.

world,

am.

is

more

Some

who

has seen

so

informed respecting

fully

much

this fact

the forms of the order adopted tion of those early structures.

anything of the kind of Asia, where they

wood a

I

assert that the buildings of the Dorians in

early times were originally constructed of wood,

in

of the

than

;

for

still

what

by them

For myself, I

and that

are only a tradiI

do not believe

have seen on the coasts

continued to build almost entirely

short time ago, does not resemble the style in

which we formerly

built here.

I

maintain, on the contrary,

that the necessity under which the Dorians lay of employ-

—countries — dictated the forms of certain

ing stone in the countries where they settled

which are not rich

in

timber

important parts of the order originated by them.

Thus,

lap! iELJ)

S a (SS fianl luE T-^u-?:

H

The Doric Order. — Fig

67.

THE HELLENES. example,

for

•capital

B

of the Doric If

a

to be placed on a post to support a beam,

is

to relieve

and

;

A

evident that the form

could not be giv^en to a capital in wood.

cap of wood

and

is

it

211

it,

its

those

in fact

section

would be as

who have

visited

I

have drawn at

Lycia and Caria

inay have seen wooden capitals of this form, and imitations

To

of them in stone, preserving that form.

decorate the

extremities of the capital, they have sculptured volutes

upon them

;

and

it is

of the Ionic capital.

with

capital,

its

to

them we must look

But

for the origin

very evident that the Doric

it is

round columns and

square abacus, has

its

no relation to the form that would be given to a piece of wood. "

That

in early

times they should often have

traves of wood, such as ings,

is

we

perfectly natural.

still

make

in

made

archi-

our private build-

Nevertheless, you will observe

that the intercolumniations of the Doric order, in our oldest

monuments, are very narrow

and that the reason of

;

their

being so was that too great a bearing should not be given to lintels or architraves of stone.

If these architraves

had

been made of wood, the columns need not have been brought so close together, nor so great a projection given to the echini of the capitals

the further

we go back

;

and we see

projection of these Doric capitals

column,

in

distinctly that

to antiquity, the greater

beyond the

is

the

shaft of the

order as far as possible to relieve the architraves,

which were then cut great tenacity

;

for the

most part from stone of no

whereas, as soon as they employed harder

stones, such as marble, they enlarged the intercolumniations,

and diminished the projection of the echinus of the capital. Moreover, if we employ neither stone nor marble for architraves, but wood, we make the intercolumniations wider, as

"Next

you have seen here let

in the courts.

us pass to the

frieze.

Some

have, in

like

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN. manner, asserted that the triglyphs which usually decorate the frieze in the Doric order represent the ends of the

wooden

which originally rested on the architrave

joists

no conclusion

more unwarranted.

is

In the

first

place, in

our most ancient Doric edifices there are triglyphs frieze

under the pediments, as there are

Now

friezes.

the

in

:

the

in

lateral

the joists had their bearings upon the

if

they could not at the same time bear upon the architraves in front and therefore their ends would not be visible there. It will be said that we have lateral architraves,

;

here an imitation the kind.

them we

—a

tradition

:

I

believe

it

is

nothing of

appeal again to our most ancient buildings.

I

In

often observe that the triglyphs are stone blocks

supporting the cornice, perpendicularly above each column, over the middle of the intercolumniation and the angles while the metopes these triglyphs "

The

— that

—remain

is

to say, the spaces left between

void.

on the other hand,

cornice,

sequence of the projection of sequently

its

to the

this original

employment of But

able time.

roof timbers

con-

;

form must have been partly suggested by the

predominance of wood be said that

evidently the con-

is

the

— and

But

the construction.

in

must

it

form was especially appropriated

stone,

and that

in this that

it is

for a very consider-

show

the Athenians

the versatility of their genius

—without

belying the forms

which the material ought to

dictate, a

Doric entablature

may be composed details "

A

excepted

Let us

first

;

as well with timber as with stone, a few

and these two drawings

take the structure

architraves B are laid,

stones

not be

is

—

imperfect, there

so.

in is

in

stone

two parts

;

will :

for

prove

it.

on the capital if

one of the

a chance that the other

may

These architraves bear from one column to

another, the joints being perpendicular to the centres of

these columns.

But then, as

I

was saying, the

inter-

THE HELLENES.

213

columniations must be narrow enough to prevent these stone architraves from having- too long a bearing.

and

we employ

There-

we do not allow more than two diameters (taken half-way down the column) between them, whereas if we adopt a wooden entablature tliese Next, the intercolumniations may be much wider. architraves being in place, we put over each column fore, if

in the

this material,

middle of each intercolumniation, a block of

which the name of triglyph

stone, to

is

given, because

it

is

usual to cut three vertical grooves on the exterior face of these blocks, to express their function as supports.

you

observe that when

will

of rigidity to a

example grooves

this

is

the vertical line

D

is

flutings,

On

we may

tween the triglyphs

;

or

lines,

these

tri-

many

little piers on the archiwhose projection and profile

placed,

remove the gutters E from the " This done,

— the columns, for

by

a matter relating to art.

glyphs which thus form so trave, the cornice

For

desire to give an appearance

or vertical support

stile

— we repeat

;

we

and put

work beneath.

faces of the

or leave void the spaces be-

fill-in

at the

projection receives the ceiling of

G, whose composed of

back a course

wood

H,

small beams which are covered with paintings or terra cotta,

— beams which carry the panels

joists

of glazed terra cotta,

receives the courses of stone

L of the

Upon

roofing.

I,

between which are placed

or of wood.

j K,

on which

these rafters are

small purlins M, which serve to carry the

them from

slipping.

You

The

cornice

rest the rafters

notched

tiles,

the

and hinder

observe that this structure

is

very simple, that each part serves a purpose, and that, while nothing

is

deficient, there

which could be suppressed as fore,

is

not a single

useless.

member

It is evident, there-

that everything here has been combined in rational

conformity with the nature of the material employed, namely, stone.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

214

"Is

desired to construct with wood, for economy, or

it

because we want wide intercolumniations and a slighter structure

On

?

capital A, of stone or marble,

tlie

we put

the two girders P of wood, which form the architrave, then

the two

listel

beam

whose end

O,

Upon

cornice.

N

plates

we put the

over each column

;

forms a triglyph or support for the

o'

these triglyphs

we

place the plate Q, re-

ceiving the rafters R, which, overhanging, form a projection,

and receive

at their extremity a

of the eaves-drip, an upper plate terra cotta,

posing the

the gutters of

Between the

drip.

— may be inserted the planks V com-

It is in this

frieze.

forming the front

only show over the columns

in this case,

and not between them

S,

T, to receive

and the under part of the

—which,

triglyphs

board

manner that the entablature

of the portico in the great court of this house has been

The

made.'

timbers, being all in the free

spaces invariably

useless piece.

bearing, and

As

columns. tected

left

Here, as

decay.

in

and with

between them, cannot ferment or the stone structure,

The wooden serve

air,

there

is

not a

girders are relieved in their

no other purpose than to stay the

these timbers are

carefully painted, pro-

from the wet, and ventilated, they

may

last for

centuries. "

You

see, therefore, that

the form given to the entabla-

ture of the Doric order, can be adapted, with

some unim-

portant variations, to a structure in stone as well as to one of

wood

;

in neither case involving the necessity of falsifying

the form or the structure.

cially in

I will

some

architects

the fact for myself; that friezes this

is

not dissemble the circum-

combine the two methods, espeMagna Graecia, where I have been able to ascertain

stance that

is,

they do not hesitate to lay

and courses of stone upon architraves of wood but reprehensible, and is considered bad architecture. ;

^

See Figure 65.

THE HELLENES.

and compressible, crosswise cannot be suitable for bearing stone which is

Wood, which of the grain,

compact, " I

215

elastic, light,

is

and heavy.

inelastic,

say again

:

is

it

wooden

scarcely admissible that a

structure suggested the stone structure in the composition

of the Doric order

converse

;

;

indeed

especially since

I

should rather suppose the farther

the

we go back

into

antiquity the

more the entablatures of the Doric order

deviate from the style of a structure in wood, to conform that

to

by the use of

dictated

stone.

Still

must be

it

acknowledged that our architects have been able to adapt the

form to the structure

By Athene

"

!

" said

understands his art

!

Chremylus,

fill

his cup,

skilfully

both cases."

in

Eicos shows us that he

"

he must be thirsty

I

;

do

not regret having got him to put wooden entablatures on the columns of

my

porticos, since

that they are in place there.

he demonstrates so ably

But,

— the

rogue

!

— he

did

not tell me all this when we were talking about putting them up; indeed he assured me that it was a shame to

put these painted timbers on columns of marble " It

" !

would evidently have been better to complete them

with marble," replied Eicos.

"Yes, certainly

;

but could you protect

me

against the

who were beginning to croak like frogs after when they saw these marble columns carted here

informers rain,

.''

And what would

they have said

if,

after the columns, the

ox-teams had brought the entablatures of marble

" !

Allow me to ask thee one more question," said Epergos. saw among the Medes, and formerly in Assyria, as also

" " I

among the Tyrrhenians and even the Etruscans, vaultings made of brick, unburnt or burnt, and likewise of stone and ;

here

I

have often recommended

this

kind of construction,

which has the advantage of protecting buildings from

and preserving the

interior effectually

from heat and

fire,

cold.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

2i6

Now

both the Hellenes and the Dorians of Sicily and of

Magna

Graecia have often seen vaultings

bouring peoples

;

why do

among

the neigh-

they decline to adopt them ?"

There are two principal reasons why they do not," " the first, that the Greeks do not like to replied Eicos "

;

adopt the methods of barbarians it

or, if

;

they do adopt them,

The second

with very considerable modifications.

is

that Greek artisans make a point of doing honour to labour,

and that vaultings require a coarse kind of

toil

is

their

which

Whether they are built of brick or of stone, recourse must be had to a great combination of apthick walls must be pliances, and a multitude of workmen is

not to their taste.

;

built,

the vaults must be turned, and the haunches

Now

thou must observe that we do not use lime or mortar

in

our masonry, as

is

the custom in

Media and

filled in.

in

Egypt,

but only to make plastering; and vaults cannot be built without mortar.

form

We

might certainly compel slaves to per-

work, which requires more sweat than intelligence,

this

but we are averse to doing in

engaged

in

Thus

slaves are

work requiring brute painters,

are organised

not like to see barbarians in

accomplishing

employed only

for carting, for

works which they take a pride

themselves.

ground.

Our workmen

so.

who do

jealous corporations,

force, or for

bringing materials to the

Our carpenters and stone-cutters, our sculptors and are free men, endowed moreover with an excessive

amount of amour-propre: they should be appreciated

workmen to show them

;

and

I

desire that

their labour

have often seen

take their friends along a building

common

newly

finished,

the stones they had cut, or the timbers they

had framed. "

The

capitals of the portico in this residence were turned

workmen be summoned into the

and cut by four

skilful

;

if

one of them should

may

be quite

sure he will cast a loving look at the parts wrought

by him.

chance to

house, you

THE HELLENES. He knows the

217

thoroughly well whether they are on the right or It is

left side.

owing to

which

this feeling of pride,

is

sometimes beyond bearing, that we are able to secure work

whose execution

is

perfect.

It is

quite sufficient to

tell

our artisans that the work of one of his comrades careful than his, to

make him

tined to attract observation

not des-

if it is

every one tries to shirk

;

more

is

But we have

surpass himself.

great difficulty in getting even tolerable work,

one of

such cases we are obliged to have recourse to slaves. too

is

the reason

edifices

why you do

No

such as those of Egypt.

"

There

.

.

and

..." I

.

.

.

how

see

the matter stands

antagonisms whose motives

this explains

You

the

love

arts

so well that

did

I

you

a point of keeping their various expressions within

easy grasp. of

in

matter for reflection here," said Epergos, after

not perceive.

make

one could be found to

birds."

is

a moment's silence. .

This

us enormous

which — on account of work — can only be appreciated by the

cut the crowning stones, the

the height

among

not see

In

it.

many

If

your

edifices are small

other nations,

it

their parts at a glance

is

—

compared with those

because you wish to enjoy

to

embrace

all

their ensemble easily.

Hellas has no such palaces to show as those of Babylon,

which are too vast "

You

for

one day's exploration."

Not only have we no

are right.

taste for edifices

of too vast a size, and which, consisting of

juxtaposition, do not possess that

require in every

work of

art

;

many

parts in

stamp of unity which we

but thou wilt observe that

the Greeks, in contradistinction to other nations, avoid a multiplicity

Whether

it

of architectural

features

in

their

buildings.

be a temple, a public building, or a private

house, moderation

is

the supreme law

;

and

the judicious arrangement of the structure

it is rather by and the study

of the proportions that these edifices seek to please, than

by the profusion

of the ornaments

and the accumulation of

2

THE HABITA TIONS OF MAN.

1

those striking details which gratify barbarians.

we

not be forgotten that sensitive to excess

expense.

;

inclined to criticism,

who

Citizens, therefore,

and sparing of

are so fortunate as to

possess large property, must be careful not to lic

display of

it,

of the nation

cite

;

make

a pub-

and not offend the democratic sentiments

Athens has many

by a show of luxury.

who might make

our host,

citizens, like

riches

must

It

are a free people, jealous and

a display of their

but what purpose would that serve except to ex-

envy and malevolent suspicions

A

?

stranger passing

through the streets of Athens might suppose that

all its

To

inhabitants lived in dwellings nearly equal in style.

mention only one example, the house of

Clito,

which

next

is

to this, presents to the public road an entrance greatly

Yet

resembling that of Chremylus.

who

lives

on chick peas.

The

Clito

are distinguished from each other only

poverty of the

interiors, into

are admitted.

Besides,

is

a poor fellow

dwellings of the Athenians

by

the luxury or

which intimate friends alone

we have not

the resources either in

gold or labour which the kings of Egypt and Persia can

command

we have not armies

;

vient to our orders

;

it

of slaves or a plebs subser-

would be impossible

for us to

or to surpass in extent or riches the public those.countries.

It

is,

therefore, in

equal

monuments of

beauty and excellence of

form that the Greeks have attained that superiority which is

conceded to them

in

works of

art."

But what dost thou say about the use of numbers, of " which the Egyptians are so fond } " In that department the Egyptians have been our "

teachers

;

and

historical traditions agree in affirming that

we have derived from them for a long "

And

the methods in use

among

us

time past."

so

you make use of these methods

of your buildings

" .-*

in the

design

THE HELLENES. " Certainly,

219

The

they are prescribed in our schools.

Doric order, for example, which plays so important a part

most of our

in

by

structures,

is

subjected to rules determined

Not

certain numerical relations.

only, however, should

weary you by going into details on the subject, but these are mysteries which our corporations do not allow us to reI

veal to the uninitiated." "

Thou

art very

coy with thy mysteries, Eicos," said one

everybody knows them or may know

of the philosophers;

"

them by measuring

a building

;

is

it

easy enough, then, to

discover these numerical relations." " It is not so it

is

easy as thou thinkest," replied Eicos

necessary

first

to

column

is

the echinus of the capital. the column

at

what points these

wider at

rela-

base than under

its

Well, then

!

to be a certain multiple of

is

" for

Thus, for example, thou art aware

tions are determined.

that the shaft of a

know

;

if

its

the height of

diameter,

is

it

at the foot, in the middle, at the upper end, or at the third

or fourth part of the shaft that thou wilt take this diameter or

modulus

moreover,

I

i*

—

tell

me

add that

Thou

!

canst not answer. ...

in certain cases the

taken at the base, and

in

modulus

will

If,

be

others at the middle or at a third

of the height of the shaft,

how

couldst thou discover the

method adopted by the architect of such a building At any rate, what tedious experiments must be undertaken to solve .-'

the questions

Thou

!

hast no

little difficulty in

learning the

who in his simplicity does not hide thee his thoughts, who is like an opened scroll before from thee, who obeys all his instincts, and who is always near thee. Thou believest him to be gentle and affectionate character of a child,

;

but some day thou discoverest that he

supposed gentleness irritable,

is

hypocrisy.

is

cruel,

and that his

Thou thoughtest him

yet on a certain occasion he surprised thee by

his patience.

.

.

.

And

yet thou wouldst presume to find

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN. measure

out,

wliich

hand,

in

how

a building has been designed,

perfectly silent, which neither feels nor manifests

is

any sentiment, but which,

every part of

in

its

plan, contains

man

the calculations, the thoughts and sentiments, of a

whom "

perhaps thou hast never seen

Bravo! Eicos

" !

said

!

Chremylus; "crush

this philoso-

pher who presumes to discover the m}'steries of thy

A

crown "

for the victorious Eicos

Stop a moment

who,

I

have not yet answered our

brethren,

his

like

!

art

" !

pretends

make

to

architect, art

his

sanctuary of the most formidable mysteries

— the centre

the most exalted intellectual emanations.

What

sa}',

" It is beautiful, assuredly,

which glows

in

with

of

dost thou

"

Eicos, to this Thessalian apple

brilliant tint

the

?

its

carmine skin of that

the cheeks of our country girls

when they quicken their steps to be early in the market." Good Thou wilt admit that this fruit is wonderfully ''-

!

adapted to touch

;

that

An

is

it

Now

parts.-*

enveloped "

satisfy the taste, the smell, the sight,

what produced

fairly

apple-tree, probabh'."

but dost, thou think that the apple-tree

;

Wouldst thou,

apple-tree

Why

of

relation

apple, the tension of

number and arrangement

"

pulp so

"

"Very good

"

this luxurious

in its

.''

knowingly calculated the this

and the

well proportioned as a whole and

of

its its

the

diameter

soft

and shining

pips

?

skin,

of the

"

by comparing me

to an

architects erect buildings which

charm

then, conclude

" ?

not

.?

You

us because you have been planted, cultivated, and grafted to

that end

;

as a plum-tree to produce plums, a doctor

to prepare drugs,

and an armourer to make arms.

All of

you are only intermediate agents of a superior intelligence and if thy productions are better than those of any of thy

THE HELLENES. brethren,

it is

that thou hast been planted, cultivated, and

grafted.

But

if

of the apples "

An

the apple-tree were to presume to be vain

we should laugh in

produced,

it

admirable conclusion

Eicos and

of us

all

who

"

said

!

think, act,

its

branches."

Epergos smiling

;

" so

and produce, are only

unconscious organisms,"

How dost thou

"

know," continued the philosopher,

vegetables are unconscious

not hear their voice

;

Thou

?

seest or thinkest thou

they do not move,

seest, as Distasis said, that

the imperfection of thy understanding. resides in all things

only

manifests

it

it is

;

dost

?

equal in value everywhere,

ways

itself in different

;

the living being

only a fragile envelope with which

itself is

— thou

At most only The Soul of the

what does that prove

World

" that

it is

pleased to

clothe itself in order to attain an end." "

And what

"

Well!

is

that end

.''

— the

"

objected Distasis.

life that is someThat portion of the soul of the world which is assigned to each being, returns when we are dead to the common reservoir, to be anew employed, as needed and according to its quality for we may have made that

thing,

it is

fancy

I

Life

perpetuity of

;

!

;

portion worse or better than us.

.

.

When

.

"

Eicos

this

Eicos

was confided to

rat.

he acknowledges that day he has been engaged in acquiring

the talent which charms

modicum

it

the apple-tree as well as

an excellent architect

is

from his birth to the

was when

mean

I say, zve, I

man, the dog, and the

it

;

But who

us.

will assure us that

of the world's soul with which our friend

endowed, did not begin by occupying the body of a bee, which by superior industry distinguished itself is

among those

its

of

hexagon cells

?

kind, its

is.^

and made

companions

And why

}

more regular than were Does a bee know what a

cells

does

it

always make hexagonal

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN. "

Eicos talks to us

now

of mysteries in which architects

are initiated, of the laws of numbers, and of geometric figures.

It is

the facts

as

;

my

if

made to fit by describ-

opinion that those laws were

the bee were

now

to

amuse

ing the properties of the hexagon, and

itself

how

it

is

of six equilateral triangles joined at the apexes.

World

the Soul of the

work of the

in the

I

discern

bee, as I discern

every work of art and in every product of nature.

in

it

composed

Distasis believes himself alone to be the intelligence that

evokes a world which does not really exist

;

that intelligence everywhere, perpetuating

which

ter

exists,

if

within mat-

but which would be inert without

to return to our starting-point,

friend Eicos,

for myself, I see life

he

will

I

And

it.

put a question to

will

my

allow me."

"

By

"

Did man invent numbers, or did numbers exist before Did man invent the circle, or did the circle exist

man

.'

man

before "

.-'

Numbers," replied Eicos,

man

that

all

means,"

all

has done

is

and to apply the other

" exist

as geometry exists

;

to take cognisance of the former,

to his requirements,

arts,

and

industrial occupations,"

"

Good

:

then

if

numbers and geometry

existed, the de-

ductions from numerical and geometrical relations existed also

;

for the

number twelve was

divisible

by two, by

three,

and by four without man's being wanted to demonstrate the fact existed

;

;

therefore

all

harmony

the laws of

in

numbers

and what your architects regard as mysteries, are

only borrowings from a tions of the

common

treasury,

by those

frac-

Soul of the World which occupy your archi-

tects' bodies," "

These are subtleties about which

myself," returned Eicos,

modicum

"

What

of the Soul of the

I

do not concern

can say

is,

that the

World which has

fallen to

I

THE HELLENES. my

223

share has sometimes great trouble in getting out of

to satisfy the caprices of my

means affiDrded us I have clients, and my own conceptions

of what should be done.

do not think that the apple-tree

difficulties,

when by the

aid of the

I

or even the bees can have these anxieties.

I

do

not, however,

my

the less thank thee for having assigned as

origin the

body of one of those deft little workers of Hymettus for it was not a very pleasant idea that I began life in the trunk But by Bacchus I am dying of thirst of an apple-tree. ;

!

give

me

"

something to drink

!

Thus passing from one subject to another, the conversation, now serious, now humorous, was prolonged till sunThen the guests went into the garden to breathe the set. cool and fragrant evening air. At night, each of them preceded by a slave carrying a lantern, returned to his abode.

A choice set of maniacs

"

when they were alone " Yes," replied

!

"

said

Doxius to

his

companion

in the street,

Epergos

—

"

beings with a mania for ideas,

a mania for discussion, a mania for investigation, a mania for criticism

and

a noble frenzy,

many

as

by

for the all

examination of everything.

the gods

;

It is

thy Persians do not turn up

ideas in a whole year, through

all

Babylon, as have been brought under discussion

the city of this

evening

at our friend Chremylus's." "

Assuredly

:

and they would have the good sense not to

suffer it." "

So thou

thinkest."

"Certainly! could

is

make head

there a single

community

of

men

that

against this torrent of extravagances, this

liberty of saying anything,

and discussing

ever}'thing, un-

less the magistrates of their state did their best to repress

such intellectual licence "

and

Nonsense, Doxius its

city

!

" .''

this people, with its small territory,

equal at most to one of the

quarters

of

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

224

Babylon,

men

longer in the nicuaory of

will live

than

all

thy Persians and Egyptians put together." "Yes,

it

may be

so,

—

to pervert their minds,

and turn

What are these philosophers, so highly esteemed in Athens, who have no regard for the gods, or for hallowed traditions, and who are continually them away from wisdom.

calling in question eternal truths

They "

and time-honoured

are spirits of darkness, destroyers.

Come," interrupted Epergos,

nonsense for

me

!

Thou

"

beliefs."*

."" .

.

none of

this

antiquated

hast been harping on this string

some thousands of years, yet the world of humanity, whose extinction thou art continually predicting, lives on, develops, and advances." for

" It "

does advance, certainly

my good

But

— over a heap of

ruins."

Doxius, does not the growing forest

on the deposits accumulated at the foot of the young

and are they not vigorous thickness of those deposits "

That decay gives thee

"

No

issue

;

but

I

turn

from amidst

my

it."

in

live

trees,

proportion to the age and

.-'

satisfaction, then

" t

gaze to the vigorous shoots that

CHAPTER

XVIII.

THE ROMANS.

IMMEDIATELY after

the

civil

wars,

sway of Augustus, was beginning formation. habitations,

among

all

The taste unknown

classes of citizens

or a merchant

catiis

who

undergo a trans-

luxury and

for

to

Rome, under the

to

the ;

Republic,

for

sumptuous

was spreading

and there was not an advo-

did not possess an abode

more

elegant and spacious than were the patrician dwellings in

the time of the Scipios.

Rome, whose population was composed of very diverse elements, was affected by the influence of the arts belonging to the peoples to which she owed her origin, and which she had successively conquered or chosen as allies. Her architecture, Etruscan in its origin, had been gradually enriched by additions from Magna Graecia, Sicily, Attica, and Asia Minor accordingly, at the commencement of ;

the imperial era,

it

exhibited a blending of arts differing in

whose

character moderation prevailed, was of opinion that

Rome

in their principles

and

in their form.

Augustus,

should be content with the conquests achieved under the Republic, governing the provinces by a wise administration

;

and that of these materials combined she should

found an impregnable empire, without overstepping limits

which he considered as

definitively settled.

During the Republican period, leisure to think of the arts,

Rome had

scarcely had

and of the pleasures and com-

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

226

fort of

At

which they afford the means.

the conclusion

of the Social War, however, a taste for the arts was diffused

among the inhabitants of the victorious city. The cities of Samnium Etruria and Lucania, which contained somany magnificent buildings, furnished, on their destruction by Sulla, an immense booty, whose artistic worth and importance exercised a very considerable influence on the character of the

The

Romans.

imbue the Romans, during the last years of the Republic, with a taste for the arts and after the wars of Sulla, there was not a Roman citizen of any consideration who was unacquainted treasures of Greece also contributed to

;

who

with the Greek language, and

did not desire to have

house some productions of Athenian skill. The far-sighted policy of Augustus suggested

in his

the

advantage to be derived from stimulating that growing taste for objects of art

the

Roman

of luxury

which was manifesting

aristocracy; well aware as he is

one of the most

effective

the upper classes in vassalage. lived simply himself

itself

among

was that the habit

means of holding

Therefore, although he

and continued

to inhabit a

modest

dwelling, he looked with favour on those of the patricians-

who in their habitations affected a luxury till then unknown, who gathered around them artists and poets, and adopted all the refinements of foreign introduction. He who builds himself a palace and adorns

it

with costly works of art

To encourage

not a conspirator.

this

emperor had the temples and public

edifices rebuilt

grander scale and with costly materials.

was followed by

all

favour of the prince

;

is

movement, the on a

This example

who were desirous of enjoying the for they knew that this was the most

advantageous mode of paying their court to him.

Not only was

the city of

Rome

changing

its

appear-

ance, and being covered with sumptuous buildings which

THE ROMANS.

227

delighted the gaze and occupied the attention of the multitude, but the country districts witnessed the erection of villcB

which contrasted, by their extent and magnificence,

Romans

with the country houses of the

these having been usually characterised plicity

;

by extreme simin

which

this display of

luxury

mere centres of farming operations

as

;

of the Republic

luxury had no place. It

must be observed, however, that

was dictated rather by vanity than by love of Art. Not far from Rome, on the slope of the mountains which separate ancient Latium from the country of the Volsci, and near a small town called Lanuvium, might be seen at the epoch referred to a

villa

of moderate size, recently built

Mumrnius, a wealthy

for a certain

patrician.

This

mius, after having played an active part in the has, like

many

Mum-

civil

others, finally selected his party

war,

on the

strength of those recent events which have invested Augustus with the life,

supreme power; and withdrawing from public

he has devoted himself to the tranquil enjoyment of the

good things that have His

villa

fallen to his share.

comprises a large extent of land, occupied

by vineyards and woods, and consisting, in part, of the plain, cultivated by coloiii. This beautiful estate, which is watered by the Lanuvius, is approached by the Appian way. Figure 68 presents the general plan of the villa. The

partly

open

fields in

ground

rises rather

abruptly towards the north-west, so

that the principal building

winds coming from the

A

sea,

is

sheltered from the violent

and the keen

blasts

from the

north.

The Lanuvius, which estate,

is

Marshes.

seen at

The

B,

rises at

a short distance from the

flowing southwards towards the Pontine

road, which branches off the

Appian way,

describes a wide curve at C in order to avoid the sudden

22}

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

General Plan of

changes of

level,

Ruman

Villa.

Fig. 68.

and abuts on the enclosed gardens at D. the north-east side at E as far

The woodland extends on

THE ROMANS. Appian way, while F

as the

occupied by vines.

is

are the orchards and kitchen gardens

From

being at H. gallery

I,

229

;

At G

the pleasure gardens

the principal building A, extends a long

with xystus (a covered promenade) to a smaller

building K, which serves as a retreat for the proprietor

when he wishes

At

to be alone.

I

are the quarters for the

slaves attached to the service of the house

who

A

near the entrance-gate.

while those

grove of olive trees extends

along the hillside at N, and at O

and wine

oil

;

have the care of the gardens, inhabit the building M, a small building for the

is

presses.

Let us now examine the abode of the proprietor, figure At A is a long vestibule, barrel-vaulted, and by it?

69.

position adapted for the convenience of visitors awaiting

an audience, who

may walk

about or

rest

on the benches

placed in the two exedrce (semicircular rooms or recesses)

This vestibule

at the ends.

The entrance B

a few paintings.

whose room

is

at

very simply decorated with

is

is

kept by the porter

C.

At D is a waiting-room for the accommodation of those who are not introduced into the atriuui E, with its iiiipluvitim in the centre.

when they

It is

there that the clients assemble

are waiting for the master to

anywhere, or to consult him on their impbiviimi

is

at F,

stone columns.

accompany him

The

affairs.

surrounded with porticos supported by

In the

centre

surmounted by a bronze

statue,

a basin

is

and fountain

and near the north end an

exedra of white marble looking due south, and where,

the air

is

great

cold, persons

may

rest

and converse

when

in the sun-

shine.

At in

g,

an inner vestibule leads to the great triclinium G,

which from

accommodated. /

and

i

fifteen

The

to eighteen

guests

may

small private tricliniiim

two rooms serve

— one

for

is

be easily at H.

At

a cloakroom, the other

230

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

Plan of the Habitation of

for a pantry.

room

A

Roman

vaulted library

u, also vaulted

Villa

is

and receiving

—Kig.

by.

placed at lig-ht

I

;

and the

from a circular

THE ROMANS.

231

hemisphere, serves as

orifice contrived in the centre of the

a place for family gathering during the heat of the day, being cool and

At T

is

lofty.

a strong-room, in which plate and jewellery are

kept. -^The bed-chambers are at K.

The baths comprise a

first

a large basin of cold water

hot vapour, and the room

Over

t\\Q

frigidariuui

room or frigidariiim L, with two rooms M and m for

next,

;

N intended

is

At

the waters of the aqueduct w.

The vault

kitchen

is

placed at

The

specially attached

placed at

X

to

At R cellars,

arched, and

its

octagonal

dormitories of the slaves

who

are

the service of the proprietor are

and are stationed

under the porticos.

are two flights of stairs

;

one leading down to the

the other ascending to the upper story, which

whole of the north-west wing.

occupied by bed-chambers.

the garden side

it is

But several of them are every night on

X.

raised over the is

;

in the different parts of the house,

in the triclinmm, or

floor

V

by

s are the latrines.

terminated by a flue which carries off the odours

is

and the smoke.

guard

for tepid baths.

placed the reservoir supplied

are

all

A fosse

This

is

first

cuts off from

the eastern part of the dwelling, on which

the great

and

small

triclinia.

Vine-covered

trellises screen the alleys along the xystus, and in front of

the entrance.^

From prospect

the building K, which serves for a retreat, the is

delightful.

Over the woods, which slope down

towards the south, the view comprises nearly the whole course of the Lanuvius which winds

beyond, the Pontine Marshes, green carpet dipping into the

among tumbled

1

It

is

;

In the background,

sea.

the Volscian mountains and the rugged

Circsean promontory.

rocks

resembling an immense

summit of the

during the Saturnalia that

See the General Plan,

fig.

68.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

232

the master for at that

is

most inclined to

time the house

is

retire to this little filled

sanctum

with noise and bustle.

This building contains a small triclinium, a room open towards the south, a small

library,

and a few bedrooms.

The long gallery and the museum afford a covered promenade in bad weather, since the museum is completely shut in on the western side, whence comes the rain and the sea-wind.

Even during the

later

summer

heats there

^

is

jaicds

nothingf to-

Rom.

W, Elevations of

Roman

Villa.

— F)G.

be apprehended from the pernicious

Marshes plain.

;

for the villa

is

70.

air

of the Pontine

considerably elevated above the

THE ROMANS.

235

Externally these buildings affect great simplicity, particularly

on the entrance

side, as the elevation

A

(fig.

70)

tricliniinn opens,

has

shows.

The

opposite front

more pretension interior all the

;

B,

but

more

on which the

Mummius

has

reserved

for

the

striking decorative features of the

mansion.

Interior

The exedra,

View

great court, with is

of

its

Roman

Villa.

imphivmm

one of the parts of the

particularly attractive

Fig.

appearance

71.

in the centre,

villa (fig.

and

its

which presents a 71).

Two aged

THE HABITA2U0NS OF MAN.

234

is,

Mummius

which

laurels,

these

new

has decided on preserving amid

buildings, afford a

little

shade

moreover, refreshed by the fountain of the

portico

in

the court, which

The

the centre.

in

north side, having to sustain

the story-

situated above, consists of columns attached to piers ter-

minated by brackets. These piers and columns are of stone, finely coated with stucco coloured red

and white

;

whilst

the walls at the back of the portico are covered with paint-

The

ing in which dark tones predominate. are, in like

entablatures

manner, made of stone stuccoed and painted.

All the walls are of brick, with coloured stuccos outside

and

inside.

The

large tricliniuin and library are certainly the finest

parts of this

country on

villa.

This triclinhim

tiiree sides,

(fig.

72)

commands

the

through three large arched openings

divided by marble columns surmounted by their entablature and

by

pilasters.

All the upper part of these open-

ings above the entablature, trellis-work of bronze,

closed with extremely fine

is

filled in

with coloured glass.

Eight

wood support, at the corners, a wooden ceiling covered with paintings of a subdued tone. The mosaic pavement is most carefully executed, and all

large brackets of carved

the walls are adorned with paintings.

On

the four narrow

sides of the octagon are left niches, each of which contains a statue of a

nymph, pouring water

into a

porphyry

basin.

In bad weather the openings between the columns are closed with thick curtains. shelters

it

;

hall

the villa being also sheltered

the mountain on the north

Mummius life,

this

from the disagreeable winds, as well as from the

excessive heat of the sun

public

But the aspect of

by

side.

having almost completely withdrawn from

pays only very short

the greater part of the year

visits to

in his

Rome, and passes

Lanuvian

villa,

devoting

Triclinium of

Roman

Villa.

— Fig.

72.

\Toface pagi

:t^^.

THE ROMANS.

235

himself to study and the chase, and entertaining a few

At

chosen friends there.

Antium, whence fish, spices,

all

The

than two hours' distance

life

so that

staff of slaves is required.

up by Mummius with

relations kept

museum Greek is

;

and only a

are readily obtained,

Greece have enabled him to collect

he

is

kinds of supplies can be procured,

all

and commodities from every quarter

the conveniences of

moderate

less

friends library

his

in

in

and

manuscripts, statues, and pictures, of which

a great amateur

;

and a portion of

his

means

to the acquisition of these works of art.

a fashion with the

Roman

It

is,

is

devoted

moreover,

aristocracy thus to collect the

marbles, pictures, and manuscripts which Athens continually

produces, and for which the

Mummius

Romans pay

pretty dearly.

has in his employ a Greek freedman,

instructs his children, acts as his secretary,

who

and takes care

of his collections.

This freedman, whose name

young man who has his satirical

is

an intelligent

ingratiated himself with

Mummius by

is

Caustis,

impromptus apropos of everything for Mumwho have retired from public life ;

mius, like most persons after

having taken an active part

the present state of

affairs,

and

it, is

inclined to criticise

likes to

be surrounded by

in

censors whose conversation does not spare the favourites of fortune.

Caustis,

who

is

often sent to

Rome

on business,

reports to his patron the news of the great city, the topics

of conversation uttered

ment

among

by the populace

the senators, and ;

and loud and long

the epigrams is

the merri-

that ensues,

Mummius

thus avoids those melancholy humours which,

as he thinks, solitude usually induces in

uated to active Caustis

knows everybody in Rome, and iswelcomed every-

where because he makes ;

minds long habit-

life.

it

his business, while flattering the

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

236

whose company he happens to be, to depreciate this with a grace and address that disarm resentment. This freedman is very intimate with Epergos persons

in

others

and

;

and Doxius, who are at present these three meet at the tavern there

settled in

Rome and when ;

when Caustis

visits

the city,

interminable talk about the past and the present,

is

about Greece and Rome.

At

heart Caustis

Greek, and beneath his perpetual banter

Romans

profound hatred of the

he himself

is

;

is

is

a thorough

concealed a

whose extent

a hatred of

perhaps not aware, but which seizes every

opportunity of showing up the oddities, the weaknesses, the pretensions, and the vices of the "great nation."

On den

a certain evening, Epergos

— who had divined the hid-

feelings of his acquaintance, at the

their intimacy

—

after

having

began to talk earnestly

let

to him,

commencement

him pour out

and to speak of the

days of Athens, and the genius of her people it

had achieved

in the

domains of

of

his whole heart, brilliant

— of the rank

intellect, of its influence

in the world, and, lastly, of its faults, the cause of its mis-

fortunes. ing, for

During

this discourse Caustis

was

silently

weep-

Epergos had deeply probed the ever-open wound

which the poor Greek had flow of raillery

;

for years concealed

beneath a

and from that moment these two were

united in a close friendship which the unrelenting bitterness of Doxius only served to increase.

Doxius, who found himself very much out of his element in this

world of perpetual progress, having been a witness

of the decay, one after another, of those powers which he

had so long considered as the guardians of

human

—

order, in the

and Persian empires, and the dynasties of Egypt, which had been regarded by him as the supreme embodiment of wisdom, had conceived an admiration for the Romans, whose unidirection

of

afl*airs,

the Assyrian

form administration, unyielding though protective

rule,

THE ROMANS. colossal works,

and great strength

—

237

for

Doxius was always

disposed to side with the strongest,

— seemed

ultimate and only form of well-being

among men. He

to

him the was,

therefore, little disposed to laugh at the sallies of Caustis,

when he was exposing any of the plague-spots on the body of Roman greatness. Then would ensue interminable discussions, in

which the wit of Caustis would

call

forth

bursts of laughter, in spite of the predictions of Doxius on

the fatal influence of the critical spirit of those incorrigible

Greeks.

The freedman had spoken

to

Mummius of his two

friends,

and of the pleasant hours they had passed together, of the extensive knowledge of Epergos

and the crotchets of

Doxius; so that the proprietor had a desire

to see them.

They were therefore invited to go to the villa. From Rome it was but a three hours' ride on and they reached

it

on a

fine

spring

horseback,

morning, by the

Appian Way, which was bordered with tombs half the

way

as far as

to Albano.

them to the rooms which had been prepared them on the ground-floor near the library; and about mid-day, Mummius received them with the urbanity of a After the siesta which followed the well-bred Roman. repast, he showed them all the parts of his villa, not omitting a single detail and when the heat of the day was over, Caustis took

for

;

they sat

in the

shade of the great triclinimn to enjoy the

landscape, which was exquisitely beautiful on that side,

and

to converse while waiting for the evening meal.

"So

then," said

villa will

Mummius,

compare with the

"it

is

thy opinion that

rural habitations

my

which thou hast

seen in thy travels through Greece and Italy." " Assuredly,

Mummius," answered Epergos,

built a beautiful residence, pleasant

"

thou hast

and convenient, worthy

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

238

both of a patrician and a philosopher who loves study, and

which

in

"

life

should pass tranquilly and agreeably."

And what

" If

my museum, Egypt ?

sayest thou of

traversed Greece, Asia, and

—thou who hast

thou wilt pardon a candid answer, Mummius,

confess that

that love for collections of works of art which

vogue

in

in

I

will

have not yet been able to reconcile myself to

I

the cultivated class of

Roman

in a gallery,

my

so

society.

to see works of art in their proper place; so that

them thus assembled

is

when

much I

like

I find

thoughts involuntarily

recur to the buildings from which they must have been carried off." "

Wait a moment, Epergos

;

all

the objects which thou

by me Caustis can tell thee what they have cost me, for it was he who succeeded in getting them, or who went to buy them for me." " Very true " said Caustis. " Can any one charge Mumhast seen were either given

me

or were purchased

!

mius with despoiling the buildings of Greece of works of

when the Athenians themselves were the first to remove them from their place with a view to selling them at Rome art

.-*

If

Mummius had

not bought them, they would have been

some other patrician we may as well them here as elsewhere." " That does not affect my remark," returned Epergos. " Forcibly carried off, or adroitly abstracted by covetous hands, and bought by enlightened amateurs, the result is in the possession of

;

see

the same.

made in

is

The

place for which these works of art were

deprived of them.

That which used

to

charm

me

Greece was the taste with which the temples, habitations,

and public buildings were embellished. These edifices, even in the minutest

details,

appeared

to-

form a whole so well composed that nothing could be taken

away

or added without destroying the general harmony.

THE ROMANS. you saw a

If

formed

statue,

itself in

thought

it

239

you might have supposed that it had it occupied, and would have

the very place

monstrous to replace

by anything

it

else,

might say the same of the smallest ornament.

Greek

edifices, of all orders,

trees in our orchards their kind

—whilst

I

These

might be compared to those

which produce the

museums always

affect

where the

like the sight of a fruit-stall

fruits

proper to

me more

or less

products of

finest

the gardens are carefully arranged, but separated from the

branch that bore them. that of a fruit-stall,

me

prevent

the sight of an orchard to

I prefer

—that

This, however, does not

is all.

from admiring beautiful

systematically

fruits

arranged on shelves." " Certainly," said Caustis

pumpkins by the

"Thou

art

fall

into

for the "

fulfil

" the great point is

severe, let

Epergos,"

many

so

their destined use

unworthy hands

Is

.''

Yes," added Caustis

Rome

;

priceless

it

lost,

or to

not better to collect them .'"'

"and observe, Epergos, that the far as

to

prevent

any other asylum.

to recognise the advantages offered

by having the presumption its

works which no

be allowed to be

succeeded so

objects of art from having

Mummius

resumed

study and admiration of connoisseurs

enemies of

not to put

side of almonds."

"should we then longer

;

to

By

many

refusing

by the Roman power,

withdraw themselves from

protecting laws, these enemies, contemptible or formid-

able,

sometimes drew down upon

too well deserved.

As

their cities chastisements

soon as order was restored,

Rome

was eager to collect so many precious objects with a view to hand them down to future generations. What a wealth of art did the victories of Sulla over the Italiotes,

who

—

trea-

rebelled against their

sures

own

interests,

bring to

which would have remained buried

country towns,

if

Rome had

Rome, in

miserable

not given them the most

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

240

munificent hospitality

— which gather " I

fruits

is

And

!

— to

let

to return to thy

it

and to enjoy

cannot say," returned Epergos every year

art,

in their

—

is it

:

" ?

but trees yield new

" ;

same with

the

at leisure

it

which

nations,

for a

which the pure and abundant sap which

after

Come now

corrupted

is

" interrupted Caustis

!

that the Athenians,

who under

Parthenon and carving

tympanums

comparison

existence seem capable of producing works

nourished them dries up or ''

—

the fruit decay on the tree, or to

time to preserve

in

it

moment of

better,

" wilt

;

Pericles

metopes,

its

?

thou assert

were building the

its

and the

friezes,

of its pediments, are no longer capable of pro-

works of art

Have they not are not able to keep up with the demand for on the part of rich Romans who order Phidiases

and pay

them

ducing works of art quite as beautiful studios that

for

in solid gold

Well

?

?

;

there

a plenti-

is

now-a-days, of these works of Phidias and the most accomplished connoisseurs do not know the differ-

ful supply,

;

Has not

ence.

the wealthy Licinius a gallery quite

filled

with them, and does he not consider them superior to the

Parthenon

friezes of the

a sculptor at Athens,

made

Bacchus, that

happy "

Well

?

who

to sell thee as

me

many

Doxius

;

what

is

Xantippus,

who

will

be most

as thou wishest to buy." tell

Licinius that, for he would

"

"

thou dost not open thy mouth,

thy opinion about museums

" I think," replied

to corrupt

my friend

behind the theatre of

!

Mummius,

" But," said

it is

those bas-reliefs, and

However, don't go and

never forgive

:

lives

men than

Doxius,

"

that works of art tend

to improve them,

would have done well to

let

.''"

all

more

and that the Romans

those works of art from

Greece, which they are so eager in collecting, stay where

they were.

ments of

I

art,

did not observe that these glorious achieve-

which Epergos so much admires, were useful

THE ROMANS. them

to the Athenians, or put

themselves discreetly.

amusement

I

the

way

" said

he

" if

Caustis,

Mummius

asties;

so their dynas-

;

lasted scarcely a century." !

chapter with Doxius,

him,

Eper-

thousands of years, whereas the glory of

ties lasted for

Oh

are

Such things would never

have been tolerated among the Egyptians

"

Gods

figure in ridiculous actions,

gos used to think this amusing.

Athens

of governing

could never bring myself to find

those Greek comedies in which the

in

and made to

scoffed at

in

241

;

he

is

it

is

we

enter on

Egyptian

the

over with us

all

do pray stop

;

going to enumerate

the dyn-

all

prove to us that the successors of Alexander

will

were incapable of conferring any benefit on the land of

and that the Greeks brought trouble there

crocodiles,

done wherever they have gone."

as they have "

That

only too true," replied Doxius

is

day that

decline beginning the very

its

Egypt saw country was

"

;

its

opened to the Greeks, under the twentj'-sixth dynasty." "

Did not

spares us the "

Upon my

I

tell

first

you so

t

— We

are lucky that

Doxius

twenty-five."

word, Caustis,

is

there anything for the Greeks

to be proud of in having founded the thirty-second dynasty in Egypt, "

ending with Cleopatra

What would have become

had not put a stop Ptolemies

.''

" .''

of Egypt, in fact,

" responded Caustis.

"

— would they

Octavius

Besides was not this also

the occasion of adding to our spoils these Egyptian spoils

if

daughter of the

to the freaks of that

.-'

But

— apropos

have the same corrupting influence on Rome, as thou butest to the works of Greece if

.''

—

it

of

thy opinion, Doxius,

in

attri-

would be a sad pity

the art productions of that nation of sages were as detri-

mental to morals as those of a nation of

Mummius, order me throw

it

into

to put all thy

the sea

;

I

museum

really feel

that

fools

!

Come

into carts this

!

and

range of

242

HABITATIONS OF MAN.

77//';

bronze and marble busts, these statues, tures,

and furniture

the very marrow of our bones "

Thou

works of

it

;

making

Rome was

its

did not spend

entire people

in criticising or praising this or that building

did not applaud

Avere being

who

stage-players

gods and the most respectable its

in

not thinking about working mar-

which the scaffolding and hoardings

Rome

would ask

I

time

conquered the world.

Rome was

ble or casting bronzes

whole days

but

;

its

more powerful nor more extensive than

originally neither

was Athens.

was by spending

Rome

art that

idle poets

sense about everything.

from

removed.

ridiculed the

Rome employed

citizens.

strength in forging arms and ploughshares

cumbered with

to-

" !

art in thy usual vein, Caustis

our host whether

bas-reliefs, pic-

inlaid with ivory, are corrupting us

it

;

was not

and philosophers talking non-

Its orators

occupied the attention

of the people only with fhe interests of the republic, and did

not pass their time discussing subjects which to

man to fathom and ;

so

Rome has

it is

forbidden

always been increasing,

has risen again more vigorous after every disaster, and has ultimately given laws to every nation known.

been respected everywhere, and there

upon earth than that of Roman friend

Caustis,

citizen.

Its

name has

not a nobler

is I

title

ask our sarcastic

what the Athenians have accomplished.

Anarchy ceased to prevail among them only to be replaced by tyranny. For a moment it was possible to imagine that they would become the head of a great nation. But it was only for a moment. A prey to fits of vanity, they undertook foolish and ruinous wars did

;

and

all their

hinder them from being duped

not

accepting the protection of Alexander. this period, they

by

;

Philip

and

Certainly, during

were producing marvellous works of art

they were the centre of attraction to youth novelty

intelligence

they w-ere

flattered,

admired,

in love

with

and treated as

THE ROMANS.

24:

spoiled children incapable of behaving themselves, until the

moment when Rome world

be quiet

:

said to

Why

'

!

them

:

'You

then should

are troubling the

Rome

go

in

quest

amused these children and them away from serious things ? Say Mummius." "Wilt thou allow me to answer him, Mummius ? " said

of the playthings which have

—

enticed

!

Caustis. "

one "

The

challenge

answer

;

True

Caustis

and

;

"

;

is

much

addressed to thee as

as

any

it."

confess

I

the Athenians

myself

nonplussed,"

big

are

replied

who

children,

allow

themselves to be deluded by dreams which vanish before

snow beneath the vernal sun. The Macedonians and, at a later period, the Romans, taught them how government ought to be carried on they silenced their philosophers, their pamphleteers, and their street orators, reality as the

;

Avho were disquieting the world with their theories, their satire,

and

well

these people,

in

if

order,

home.

Doxius

their clamours.

And

who know

all

would have been very

so well

had not allowed themselves

After

—since

convenient to

all,

however, this

the

senate

live at

may

how

to

keep others

to be enslaved at

be quite to

approves

it.

It

th\- liking,

is

ease, confiding the entire

ment of the commonwealth

to a dictator.

so vastly

manage-

His alone are

the incessant anxieties, the unrest, the responsibilities of

government. of the gods,

It is

who

a genius, a god, or at least a descendant

deigns to take charge of our interests

;

what can we do better than entrust ourselves to his divine Mummius smiled, and Caustis continued guidance " !

:

The Romans have said to the Greeks, and to many other Have done with your quarrels and discussions they hinder honest people from sleeping. The world was not made to be troubled by your clamours and disputes. "

nations

:

'

Here are our

;

legions, our laws,

and proconsuls who, from

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

244

time

forth, will

take care to

selves.'

One

day, however,

Romans

themselves

this

fine

' :

make you behave yourthree men said to the

Let us have done with these

tine dissensions, these cabals

intes-

and conspiracies against the

commonwealth, these firebrands of tribunes and this restless and ambitious oligarchy. The gods sent you Julius,

—

genius

Then

;

you have assassinated him. Go home and be

men

these three

cleverest, or the

two

otliers

the

Roman

out with each other, and the

fell

most fortunate of the

three, suppressed the

and secured the government

So that

to himself

people, which gives law to the world,

hands of a single man who imposes

is

in

his individual will

the

upon

an admirable arrangement, since everybody knows

It is

it.

quiet.'

that Octavius

is

a demi-god.

liappen that this demi-god,

But just suppose

who

alas

is,

should

it

mortal, should

!

descend into the realm of Pluto, and that a lunatic should

The Roman people and

take his place.

would be things

madman

what dost thou say about

;

it,

!

govern the nations, and

to

—a

the whole earth

pretty state of

Doxius

say that the gods designate the

" I is

the power of a

in

that

" .'

men whose

right

thy hypothesis

it is

inadmissible." '

But

perchance the gods should forget to trouble

if

themselves about what takes place within the walls of

Rome

on the day when Octavius submits to the

lot

of

mortals."

"The gods never " I

tect Ceesar,

and

his assassins

;

to

Thou

•'

It is precisely I

thou art

:

ward

off

trifling, ;

Caustis."

they forgot to pro-

from his breast the swords of

yet they might easily have done so."

"

that

forget

beg your pardon, wise Doxius

canst not fathom their decrees."

because

I

cannot fathom their decrees,

imagine the possibility of an insane emperor succeed-

ing the divine Augustus

;

perhaps,

in fact,

the gods intend

THE ROMANS.

show the Romans that

to indulge in this caprice only to is

it

imprudent to entrust the

245

the republic to

affairs of

an individual, and to presume to govern themselves are governed by a

"A capital

madman

answer, Caustis," said

fools while

Mummius, who

retained

us drop a discussion which

me

tell

would lead us too

candidly, Epergos, whether our

superior or inferior

to

but

far.

But

appear to thee

villa;

of the

buildings

" ;

the old republican leaven in the recesses of his heart let

they

or a blockhead."

same kind

in

Greece." " It is

very

the Greeks do pretensions

;

Mummius

answer,

difficult to

for

Romans,

because

not construct private buildings of such

Roman

inspiration

and

do not differ sensibly from building construc-

Formerly the houses of the wealthiest

Italy.

Athenians were, as compared with our extremely simple outside

A little sculpture,

;

very small and

some

parts of the interior.

painting of an inobtrusive kind and care-

fully executed, a well-considered

the

and rational system of

works of

construction, with a few in

villcs,

pretending to no other attrac-

tions but the delicate beauty of

and exactly

first,

and secondly, because the present works as

they are generally executed, under

tions in

:

place

suited

art in exquisite taste, for

them,

formed .the

The Athenian was accusand only went home to take his

decoration of these dwellings.

tomed

to live out of doors,

meals with his family and a few intimate friends, or to pass the night.

He

had, therefore, no need of galleries, vast

courts, great porticos,

The

and spacious

halls such as

these.

ancient dwellings of the Athenians, therefore, cannot

be compared with these. Sicily,

houses are

still

Attica, except that there in the use of art.

But

built is

in ancient

Campania and

in

which remind one of those of

not the same delicate discretion

The Romans

like

pomp and grandeur

;

an importation

;

their taste for art, properly so called,

is

2

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

46

that taste

not

is

in

their blood, as

is

shown by the

fact

employ Greek artists whenever they wish to give I can have no doubt, to their dwellings the aroma of art. Muniniius, that it was a Greek who was selected by thee to build thy porticos and arrange the details of thy villa." "That is true but it was I who prescribed the plan."

that tlicy

;

" I

can well understand that

Romans

the

:

are expert in

matters relating to general arrangements, and even construction

a Greek to decorate

in

call

but when they have planned the building they

;

buildings as

Romans due

also

\'our

in

Thus

it.

in all

your public

what belongs

houses,

to the

can be always distinguished from that which

to the intervention of the

Greek

is

Whereas dur-

artist.

ing the period of Athenian prosperity, the public buildings as well as the houses, both in their ensemble and their details,

form a harmonious whole which was so complete that

it

was

impossible to distinguish the structure from the decoration." "

So

interrupted Caustis, "if the

that,"

take care,

tlie

Greeks

will

impose

Romans do

their arts

not

on the masters

of the world." "

Not

at all

!

"

replied

Epergos

" ;

adopted vaulting, and the Romans architectural method, which

on the large

may

lavish

never be able to rob them of the

Agrippa

is

at the

thou

Is

the

—though Greek

grand Corinthiari portico

subject

ever}-where

Roman physiognomy

possible that the rotunda

it

edifice!'

me

express

else

.''

— Greek

art

cannot

but

in

Attica

it

will

come

artists are

in front of

have

in fact, Caustis,

in their

on the exterior or

building for his Thermae can ever

semble a Greek

on

so well adapted for buildings

masses erected by the Romans, they

interior of the gigantic

and character.

not abandon their

Whatever orders or decorations

scale.

particular taste the Greeks

will

is

the Greeks have never

will

my

it.

full

which to re-

working \\'ouldst

conviction

be transplanted

;

show a stunted

THE ROMANS.

247

growth, or will become a monstrosity.

The

truly belongs to a people cannot develop

itself

than on the ditions that

soil

art

it sprung, and under the conHast thou observed the two or

from which

produced

it.

three Greek temples which they have recently taken their

heads to build

beauty or

Egypt

in

any other respect

in

which

elsewhere

They

.''

to those

it

into

are not inferior in

which are

built in

presence of the

Egyptian monuments,

nothing could be more ridiculous.

A similar result would

Greece

yet,

;

in

any one should take a fancy to build in Rome a temple in the style of those of Thebes. Let us leave

ensue

if

things in the place in which they originated." " It is a

long time, Epergos," observed Doxius, " since

thou hast said anything so " ate,

sensible."

know what thou wouldst insinuand thou wouldst make me contradict myself. / say

Not

quite so fast

I

!

:

'Let us leave things

in the place

caused them to originate, but

let

where circumstances have us have the sense to take

advantage of what these things teach the

Romans found

Asia

in

which have enabled them, already possessed vaulted

in

many

combination with what they

from Etruria, to make

which we admire

constructions

have acted wisely

in

elements, because,

when we examine

we

For example,

us.'

architectural elements

;

those

taking advantage of these different the matter thoroughly

shall find that these elements are intimately related to

each other; but where the

Romans

Greek

so much,

architrave

I

is

with

cannot approve the judgment of in their

the

attempting to unite the

Asiatic

vaults.

These

contrary principles which can never be harmonised architectural work. to

noble

evidently they

impose a style of

If the art

Greeks should some

da}'

in

are

an

come

on the Romans, as they could no

longer adopt the architrave, which allows of only small •constructions,

we should

find that, considering the logical

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

248

tendency of

their minds, not being able to dispense with

the vault, they would abandon the lintel once for

they would be right

Mummius guests,

in

found pleasure

the conversation

in

and kept them several days

how

wanted

some

to visit

and

of his

same

the

in

Roman

large

place.

colonies, to see

the veterans, mingled with people of various origins,

As for Doxius,

lived in the midst of barbarians.

was

;

But Eper-

at his villa.

gos was not very fond of remaining long

He

all

so doing."

to return into Asia

—

to that vast

He had

now dismembered.

his desire

empire of the Persians

been assured that there at

no sensible change had taken place for centuries. While Epergos was attracted towards what was new, Doxius, on the other hand, was equally disposed to seek for

least

that fixed immutable point wliich he imagined must exist

somewhere

to enlighten feeble

returned to his patron,

humanity with

Rome

;

where Caustis,

steady

its.

Mummius and

They, therefore, took leave of

illumination.

the permission of

v.ith

accompanied them and remained some hours

longer with them

till

the

moment

of their departure.

Before going to dine at the tavern, Caustis wished to

show

his

Rome

two friends some of the quarters of

little

frequented by strangers, and which Epergos and Doxius

had not had

"You "

leisure to visit.

think

know Rome,"

you

because you have visited

ings,

its

Well

!

it

its

Forum, and some of is

only the ornamental

strangers are accustomed to see.

Rome visit

thoroughfares.

side

of

Rome

But there

that

an old

is

which the divine Augustus has not been able to

with the

some

public build-

its

finest

its

freedman,

the

said

temples,

hammer

of destruction.

Old Rome,

large houses belonging to the patricians

standing, though they take

now, but

let

them

good care not

to tenants

;

and where

— where

still

remain

to live in

may

them

be found

THE ROMANS. buildings of

all

249

ages, in every form of confusion

and super-

and tortuous alleys. This mass of most part of a mean and squalid appear-

position along narrow buildings, for the

ance,

by

inhabited

is

of

dealers

nations.

all

Jews,

Egyptians, Greeks, Armenians, and merchants from the Adriatic,

may

as

high as

The

be seen there.

traders speaking five

all

known

stories,

swarm with The houses reach

streets

languages.

and are inhabited from top to

was from these quarters that, in the times of the republic, those swarms of vagrants issued, who on bottom.

It

certain occasions filled the precincts of the

Campus Martius, intent on mischief." The three friends then went to visit

Forum

or the

the thoroughfares

which surround the Theatre of Pompey, and which the

^diles had the greatest ably passable.

waggons were unable

even

toler-

points the goods piled in front

shops nearly blocked up the

of the

sant.

difficulty in rendering

At some

to pass,

street.

Elsewhere

and the brawling was inces-

Itinerant dealers in fish or fruit were crying their

wares with deafening vociferation. built of

wood

Most

of the houses,

or brick, overhung the thoroughfare, and

would have embraced

their opposite neighbours but for

the timber props that kept

them

upright.

Doxius sighed, thinking of the

streets of the

Egyptian

whose houses, of no great height and for the most part having only a ground-floor, closed on the outside, and cities,

interspersed with courts and

little

gardens, had an appear-

ance of order and tranquillity which singularly contrasted with the deafening hubbub of this

human

Eper-

ant's nest.

gos recalled the streets of Athens which were also narrow

and crowded

;

but which were bordered by small neat

houses with lively colours glowing of so cheerful an aspect, even

And what

a difference

in

in

in

the sunlight, and

the poorest quarters.

the two populations

!

The

THE JIABITATJONS OF MAN.

250

remembrance which Epergos cherished of the pleasant

moments passed

in listening to the

jokes of the Athenian

populace, which were always truly humorous and improvised, and the facetious sallies of the peasants coming to sell their vegetables and fowls,

made

stand the talk of these people

He

could scarcely under-

who were

with anxious looks, for they spoke

Soon wearying of the

dialects.

Roman

the brutality of this

populace shocking by contrast.

jostling each other

all

kinds of corrupt

scene, the three friends

entered a tavern situated at the corner of one of the five centres of this populous quarter.

On

their right arose

one

of those lofty houses with several stones raised one over

another, presenting a

gloomy aspect on the whole,

not-

withstanding the rich balcony in front of the windows of the

Opposite the tavern a house of

story.

first

appearance formed the corner of the

street

less

dismal

(fig. 73).

While the repast ordered by the freedmcn was being Epergos was

prepared,

of which

contemplating this house with

and seeking to understand the various elements

curiosity,

it

was composed.

my

" It appears,

good

friend," said Caustis to him, "that

the house of Balbus has a special power of attracting thy attention.

For the building thou

other than the of Caesar.

art looking at

none

is

habitation of Cornelius Balbus the friend

Since his elevation, as

he no longer "

first

I

need

scarce!}' tell thee,

lives here.""

But Avhat a singular melange of architecture," observed

Epergos. "

Singular indeed.

It

was formerly not unusual

to put the lowest step of the stairs street, as here,

slightly raised clients

of a

in

house

Rome

in

the

allowing the erection of a covered porch

above the ground, and beneath which the

used to wait.

Recently the v^diles have prohibited

these projections because the}' obstruct the thoroughfare.

Street

View

in

Old Rome.

Fig. 73.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

252 " If

me whence come

thou shouldst ask

stone which surround these steps,

no idea

;

these columns of

must reply that

I

made

but that they were certainly not

They

purpose they now serve.

building that has been destroyed.

I

for the

some

are brought from

Thou

have

wilt often observe

appropriations of this kind in the houses of the old quarters

many

of the city that have undergone

changes.

The

were originally quite covered with painted stucco

day we

find only traces of

"The

building

from

collected

with

in great

measure of debris

This balcony, for instance,

quarters.

balustrade of white marble, so fmel}' worked, and

its

whose

fronts at this

it.

composed

is

all

;

origin

must be looked

for

on the shores of Asia.

By

the side of this highly finished work, remark that third story with

its

projecting bay constructed in simple fashion

Then

with timber framing.

look above at the garret corri-

dor supported by small marble columns, that seem to have

come from Greece. Oh ver\' fastidious in

!

I

assure you the

such matters

purpose wherever they find

it

;

!

Romans

are not

the}' take what suits their

and there

is

not a merchant

galley that does not bring as ballast from Egypt, Greece, or

some columns or fragments, which they can sell at a very good price to the bourgeois who are having houses built. The mason manages to put them into the building, and each party gains something by the transaction those Asia,

;

who demolish some

old building no longer in use, to sell

remains, the merchant

pays

for

them, and the gaping idler

" In fact,

it

thus destroyed

is

only the

"Oh

!

artist

who has any

perhaps who admired

who

stares at them."

who designed

the building

reason to complain, and those

it."

as to that, the artist died long ago,'and

now most admired

is

its

who buys them, the bourgeois who

hard cash.

what

is

Greece itself—Greece so

THE ROMANS. proud of

monuments — sells them

public

its

and by auction

to

253

Roman

brokers

;

and

if,

in

fragments

perchance, an

earthquake destroys one of her temples once held

in

such

veneration, }'ou will see the municipal authorities bestirring

themselves, not to restore highest bidder

building to

;

and

it,

but to

the ruins to the

sell

of earthquakes they help the

in default

fall if its vitality is

too persistent.

important branch of Greek commerce no\v-a-days Avith

"

and

is

an

of the chef tVceuvrcs of Phidias,

the reproduction

Praxiteles,

This

— together

their compeers."

But the gods who were worshipped

those temples,

in

"

what do they say of this traffic t " Epergos, my good friend, there

god but one

— that

is

is

scarcely any other

the great, the incomparable Plutus.

Aristophanes used to say so at Athens even in his time,

and things are much worse now." " It

may

be so at Athens, perhaps, and

it,"

said

Doxius

at

:

"

but

Rome

am

I

not surprised

has a sense of respect for

the Deities, and scrupulously observes the sacred rites."

"Doubtless, doubtless," replied Caustis; "but some gods are gone out of fashion even in

Rome

;

and the

Roman

does not greatly concern himself as to whether the columns or friezes which he buys to adorn his dwelling are from a

temple or a portico." till

night,

The

when each went

three friends did not separate

his wa)'.

CHAPTER NORTHERN

MORE ian,

SYRIA.

than three centuries had passed away, and the

seat of

Byzantium,

XIX.

Roman

in the

empire had been estabh'shed at

midst of those Greek, Phrygian, Bithyn-

and Lydian populations which were formerly on the

Roman possessions, but which had tlien become the heart of the colossus. Rome believed that it had no more to fear from the Germans beyond the Danube but the eastern provinces were continually increased by the dense masses of barbarians who occupied all the counByzantium was the key tries to the north of the Euxine. confines of the

;

of Asia Minor, Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Palestine

;

and

Lower Danube formed a line easy to defend. The Empire therefore sought to secure its power for all time to come by abandoning Rome and settling on the shores the

of the Bosphorus.

Ever since the emperors had been

Byzantium,

installed at

the trade between the Persian Gulf and the coasts of the

yEgean had vastly increased.

Caravans were incessantly

traversing the long route which, ascending the Tigris, passed

by Hatra, Tharrana, Edessa, Hierapolis, Antioch, and the There the merchandise they shores of the gulf of Issus. brought was embarked in ships, which transported it to Other caravans coming from Arabia or Constantinople.

Egypt traversed

way

of

Palestine and also reached Antioch by

Damascus, Emesa, and Chalcis.

situated between the

Upper Euphrates

Now

— that

the country is

to say, be-

NORTHERN SYRIA. tween Hierapolis, Chalcis, and Antioch,

months of the

for during several

a single stream

—the

Chalcis

year,

is

it is

an arid region

At

;

watered only by

— which empties

lake near a city of the same name. it

255

itself into

the end of

a

summer

Nevertheless, to supply the wants

remains almost dry.

of the numerous caravans which traversed the country,

many

smiall

towns had been erected on

and enjoyed a degree of prosperity

this ungrateful soil,

for

;

they supplied

themselves with provisions from Antioch and sold their

commodities at a high price to the travelling merchants.

Of

agriculture there

northern Syria

;

was scarcely a trace

and only a few herds of

in this part of

ill-fed cattle

found

a scanty pasture during the winter and spring.

The population was of Greek origin

—

and

partly of Syrian, but predominantly it

was Greek that was spoken between

Antioch and the Upper Euphrates.

Doxius considered the Christians as disturbers of the Empire, and approved of the persecutions to which they

had been subjected under the reigns of certain emperors blaming the latter a sect which he

for not

deemed abominable, and which was tend-

ing to nothing short of the destruction of

When

;

having exterminated at one blow

Roman

society.

he understood that Constantine was abandoning

Paganism, he thought that the Western world was approaching the most frightful cataclysm the world had ever seen

and with

his heart full of sorrow

Egypt, hoping that itself to

was

its

population at least would not allow

be hurried towards the abyss.

religious,

His disappointment

and Alexandria seemed to him worse than

great,

Athens.

;

he returned to his dear

Of

that ancient order of things, political

and

which he had so much admired, there remained

not a trace.

The Greeks took

the lead, but at their side

were to be found sects religious and philosophical without number.

Everything was subjected to discussion, and the

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

2 56

people seemed to him struck with vertigo.

intention to return to Asia, he

ing him to accompany him.

Eperjos was

when Doxius intimated

pleased with Alexandria, and

had great trouble

in

his

induc-

However, the disappointment

of his companion amused him, and he did not wish to leave

him

Both took the road to Babylon, and on the Avay Doxius had abundance of time to discourse on the approaching fall of the communities of the West, and the alone.

glorious future reserved for the nations

who had

and respect

to preserve the principles of authority

and who did not waste

traditions,

the sense for

their time in idle discus-

sions about everything. " But,"

responded Epergos,

we were among

while

glory, thou didst accuse

was

visit

we paid

in question,

think

I

remember

that

the Ninevites at the epoch of their

me of urging them Thou

of things that were then new.

ber a

" I

to the application

canst not but

to the palace of the king.

and thou gavest

me

remem-

Vaulting

a complete demon-

stration that the erection of those gigantic constructions,

human lives, was an abuse men over their fellows."

thousands of

at the cost of

of

the power accruing to certain " I

did not approve those things then, and

approve them now

;

and

in

I

do not

view of the deluge of new ideas

overwhelming the West, the vertigo that seems to have seized on those nations, and the calamities that arise that

is

from

it,

I

maintain

that

the

principle

of

uncontested

authority, and an absolute respect for tradition, are

still

preferable to that love of change which has taken possession

of the Western world, and of which those detestable Greeks

were the " is

first

promoters."

The admiration thou now

therefore onh' relative

"Certainly

;

of two evils

"Well: dost thou

expressest for these Asiatics

" .'*

also

it

is

better to choose the less."

remember thy question one

NORTHERN SYRIA. •evening while

human heads

which question

"I think

now

me

:

I

did not reply

I

with

and to

to me,

later on."

till

The

finish that reply.

we

;

bulls

are strong

seemed

us and above us

We are a pebble

.'*

also to say to

and durable

this strength as against the piles of clay

tain of earth

— bulls

remember."

We are stone

'

at the Colossi

decorated the portals of the same

what those monsters were saying

palace,

" I

was looking

I

—which

257

;

but what

is

which stand around

by the

moundust. Our

side of a

which time must soon reduce to

strength and durability will not be able to hinder the vast

and irreparable ruin of that which we seem

to support.'

Meanwhile, the farther they advanced, the more desert

One might have imagined

the country became.

nomades who, previous

to

the Assyrian

that the

Empire, alone

traversed these vast plains, had returned to take possession of the country.

Sometimes they came upon

little

towns

half in ruins, deserted villages, and uncultivated fields.

Babylon no longer existed save of this

immense

city,

ever will exist, was

name

;

and the

site

the largest that ever did, or probably

marked only by mounds of clay

mingled with fragments of terra

and but

in

cotta.

A

inter-

forlorn-looking

partially inhabited collection of houses occupied

the thousandth part of the area once surrounded

by those

ramparts that were formerly the admiration of the world.

The

scene was so depressing that Epergos had not the

heart to rally his companion on his chagrin.

Dejected and

silent,

Doxius wished

and Epergos made no objection. the

to depart next day,

Accordingly, ascending

Euphrates, they bent their steps towards Palmyra.

whose splendour they had witnessed under the rule of Diocletian, when that Emperor had vast edifices and what little built there, was sadly shorn of its glory But

this city,

life

was kept up

;

there,

was due

to the caravans

R

which

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN. called there on their

Antioch.

They

way from

Damascus or

Seleucia to

towards the

their course

therefore bent

latter.

"

What we have

seen within the last itw months," said

Epergos, while they were crossing regions which were "

almost desert, friend

men rise

:

ought to convince thee of

that liberty only

elevated and

made

is

fruitful,

— that

Have we

better.

this truth,

by

it

my

alone are

ever seen nations

and acquire a noble moral energy under despotic rule?

What has Egypt become, despite the wisdom and

uniformity

—

The receptacle of all the known world. What have the empires of Almost a desert. We visited Assyria and Persia become

of

its

government

theocratic

?

corruption of the

.-•

Rome

in all

her glory, when, tired of

she confided the direction

emperor.

What

more audacious his

civil

of the

body

will

factions,,

in

to an

she become^

of her's, in face of the

enterprises of the barbarians

speech Doxius only replied

companion

wars and

commonwealth

has she become, and what

>with that unwieldy

To this

—

more and

" .''

monosyllables, and

failed to rouse him.

They went on

till

they came one evening to the large

country-town of Androna, whose well-constructed, rectangular houses,

the

all

with terrace-roofs, were built nearly on

same model.

Most

of the habitations of

like those of all the inhabited centres of

afford

since

this town,,

Northern Syria,

lodging to strangers and supply them with food the country produces literally nothing, and

is

;

so

completely devoid of streams, that the rain-water has to be collected in large tanks during the rainy season, which lasts

about two months

and

;

this

is

the supply for the whole

year.

The house the largest.

at

which the companions stopped was one of

Here

spacious court, A,

is

is

the plan of

it,

figure 74.

A somewhat

entered, at the end of which

is

a large

NORTHERN SYRIA. hall, B.

are

The dwelling-rooms

rooms intended

sions.

The kitchen

of the family are at

for various uses, is

at o,

259

and

at

and

K

Plan of North Syrian Stone-roofed House.

for

c.

At D

keeping provi-

a flight of steps con-

Fig.

74.

ducts to the upper story, which rises on the buildings only as far as the line a b. The large hall occupies the height of the ground-floor and of the upper story. Strangers admitted into the habitation enter at G, and are

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

j6o

accommodated

in

as dormitories. stalls for the

The

the hall

At L

animals at

horses enter

is

F,

E,

and the rooms

r,

which serve

the stable, under cover, with the

and mangers between the

by the door

H.

At

is

I

leading on to the terrace that covers the stable.

tower affording a view of the country this

tower

is

;

pillars.

a flight of steps

At V

is

a

the upper terrace of

reached by wooden ladders.

But these habitations present

this peculiarity in their

Section of North Syrian Stone-roofed House.

Fig. 75.

construction, that they are built entirely of large stones,

there being no available timber in the country.

This ac-

counts for the arrangement of the plan, which presents only

NOR THERN S YRIA

261

rooms of narrow dimensions, or divided by one or more semicircular arches that receive the large slabs forming floor

and

roof.'

Figure 75, which gives a perspective section of the large and the hall E in plan, explains this method of con-

hall,

We said

struction.

that the great hall occupied the height

of the ground-floor and A,

which form

its ceiling,

and tempered

At B

is

story

first

;

accordingly the slabs

support the terrace

made

of gravel

clay.

seen the room which, on the

first floor,

comes over

the hall E of the plan.

Cupboards are made

in

the walls of most of the rooms

for the furniture consists only of very

;

low wide benches

covered with mattresses, along the walls, with mats fastened to these walls forming a back

— a few small tables and some

of the most indispensable utensils of pottery and bronze.

Wood made

so scarce in the country that the doors are often

is

of stone slabs turning on pivots.

Figure

"j^

represents the exterior view of this habitation.

Its proprietor is a

and receives

Greek

;

he

is

affable, a

good

his guests with cordial politeness.

talker,

When

the

horses are stabled, the servants go to fetch water from the

tank under the court, and to which there K.

This tank

is

built exactly in the

rooms

;

which

rest the arches that

that

is

is

a flight of steps

same way

support the slabs and the coarse

concrete which composes the area of the court.

water

As

is

The

rain-

by means of stone channels. nine months of the year the country

led into the tank

during eight or

very hot, these houses,

is

as the

to say, with a longitudinal central wall, on

made

entirely of stone, afford their

inhabitants a perfectly cool retreat, and preserve an equable

temperature during the rainy and variable season. ^

The double

lines intersecting the

can-ying stone ceilings.

rooms indicate the plan of these arches

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

262

Epergos, when examining this building, could not help

remarking the arrangement of the plan, which reminded him,

in

miniature, of that of the Ninevitc habitations which

he had formerly

visited.

It

had nothing

in

common

with

the Greek dwellings; and yet most of these habitations

View

varj'ing

in

of

size,

North Syrian Stone-roofed House.

Fig. 76.

but designed on the same plan

— were

inhabited by Greeks.

In the centre of the town was a Christian basilica; for the country had been Christian

more than a century; and

not far from the church was a monastery also with a chapel.

NOR THERN S YRIA Epergos wished

to visit this estabhshment,

and

his host

The

pretending fatigue, remained within the house.

idea of finding himself able.

.

.

.

was

Doxius, more depressed than

wiUing to accompany him. ever,

263

in a Christian

But whither could he

country was unbear-

The world

retreat.''

seemed tobe undergoing a transformation or rather seemed to him to be rushing into an obscurity full of danger and ;

Tuin.

The monastery

scarcely differed, either in plan or aspect,

from the large houses of the town story was divided into

by

cells,

;

except that the upper

the great hall was replaced

a chapel, and the courts were larger.

These monks received

travellers

who were

too poor to

pay for lodging and entertainment. For this purpose they had erected a special building and their means of livelihood were the gifts bestowed by the wealthy inhabitants ;

-of

the district

;

the caravans even contributing,

returned satisfied with the results of their

Accompanied by of appreciating the of the inhabitants,

and

living

on so

his host,

Epergos had an opportunity

affability

and

intellectual

development

surrounded as they were by deserts a

sterile

soil.

Although

their dwellings

were very simple, they were convenient; and liad

when they

traffic.

in

those which

most pretensions, the luxury consisted only of beauwoven stuffs and of exquisitely-wrought utensils

tifully

brought by the caravans coming from Persia. ^maintained

among them

Slaveiy was

in spite of the Christian

must be remarked that

law; but

had rather the character of domestic service imposed without severity, and that the it

slaves

made

recreation ^'illages,

part of the

which

the

it

family.

inhabitants

The only

possessing no gardens and

route of the caravans, could indulge

these

of

out-of-door

towns

and

scattered along the in,

was that of

killing

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

264

the birds of passage in spring and autumn, and huntingbeasts of prey and the gazelle.

These expeditions were, it must be understood, conducted on horseback for none but the poor went on foot. ;

For transport, camels and asses were employed. Life, tlierefore,

was not spent

in idleness; for the continual

passage of caravans, the necessity of providing subsistence,

and

traffic,

diffused

through that

little

town.

But

Eager

for gain,

whom

for their

constant animation

this picture

had

its

shadows

Obliging and obsequious to

they expected to

they were hard

profit,

and unpitying towards those who were unable to pay

The

services they solicited.

extortionate usury

;

for the

wealthiest practised the most

and Christianity had done

little

to

Besides, most of the Greeks living

mitigate these abuses. in this

!

both rich and poor got as much as they

could out of the travellers. those by

a

country came there only to enrich themselves as

quickly as possible.

As

soon as they had amassed large

sums, they would spend the

remainder of their

lives in

B\zantium or on the Asiatic coast of the .^gean.

The

conditions, therefore, on which the prosperity of the country

depended were unchangeable

;

and

its

inhabitants were

obliged to be contented with such gains as could be

from the caravans on two or three

lines.

made

Outside these

was the desert in all its solitude. Having rested for three days, the travellers took leave of their host, who made them pay a full equivalent for the hospitality they had enjoyed and they continued their

lines

;

route northwards.

As

they approached Antioch, the country gradually

assumed a

less

naked

aspect.

Here and there might be

seen olive-trees and vines on the hill-slopes, a few rustic

dwellings where a poorly-productive cultivation was carried

NORTHERN on,

and

flocks in the bottoms,

SYRIA.

265

where grew dry scanty

grass,

and where thorny bushes were abundant. to Chalcis, lying in a comparatively

They soon came near attractive region.

To

the

left,

the horizon was broken

a long chain of blue mountains

;

and towards the

by

right,

©Q

THE JIABITA2V0NS OF MAN.

266

sparingly watering these gardens during the hot season,

A

few white houses, with their

tiled roofs,

the dull green curtain of the olive-trees,

those innumerable

little

walls

;

brightened up

which was cut by

thus forming something like

immense staircase. Epergos and Doxius halted in a

the steps of an

walk from Chalcis

;

for their host

of introduction to one of his

recommending them not

large village

two hours'

had given them a

friends

who

lived

to sojourn in the town,

letter

there;

where

they would be very badly lodged just now, on account of a great market which was being held there. fact,

the junction point of

like those of tiling;

with

and

in

is,

in

to Antioch.

of the village were not covered with terraces

The

Androna.

olive, fig,

Chalcis

the routes which forni the

and the north-east approaches

south, the east,

The houses

all

roofs,

made

of timber, carried

every habitation, a small garden, planted

pomegranate, orange

trees,

and

vines,

gave

these dwellings an aspect of cheerfulness, which contrasted

with the barrenness of the small towns our travellers had just quitted.

The house

of Theagenes, better arranged than that of

the wealthy proprietor of Androna, consisted of an arched

entrance A forming a porch on the highway (Fig. yj), of a fore-court B opening into the principal court C, bordered

a portico D, and three chambers bers, a flight of steps

to the house

I,

M

were

first

story, arranged

fore-court B also gave

with quarters L for those attached

and large stable

space H, and at

The

by

In one of these cham-

ascended to the

similarl}' to the ground-floor.

entrance into the yard

V..

at K.

Gardens occupied the

latrines.

Figure 78 gives a bird's-e\'e view of this habitation, taken

from the point X.

The

floors

were made of stone,

like

those of the houses at Androna, and the rafters of the roof

were carried by arches.

It

must be remarked that the

NORTHERN

SYRIA.

267

double portico gave to these buildings an appearance of elegance not possessed by those of which we have just seen

A

a specimen.

mingling of Asiatic and Greek traditions

was observable which highly pleased Epergos.

View

Well

built

of the

North Syrian Timber-roofed House.

with large stones laid

building had an aspect of solidity

valued

in a

b}^

//

without mortar, the

no means to be under-

country where earthquakes are frequent.

tanks situated beneath the rooms F and

a and

Fig.

led down, afforded ^

means

See figure

for

77.

L, to

Two

which the steps

watering the gardens

;

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

268

they were supplied during a considerable part of the

for

}'ear b\' a

strata

The

stream of water

through the calcareous

filtering

on which the buildings stood. interiors of this habitation did not otherwise differ

Androna same display

at all from those of the houses of

same very simple

As

furniture, the

there was the

;

of rich stuffs.

was

to the inhabitants, although their chief occupation

the supplying of the caravans, and

traffic,

they nevertheless

and

cultivated a few olive-groves, vines, and orange-trees,

were not obliged to buy or get from a distance necessaries of

Accordingly they were

life.

less

the

all

greedy

for

gain than were the people of the wild, dusty country which

Epergos and Doxius had just

Theagenes was short monds, were

left.

two black dia-

his eyes, bright as

continual motion, and his whole person

in

seemed moved by the

;

He welcomed

springs.

same time giving orders

the travellers,

to his servants,

— at

busying himself

with everything, inquiring about everything, and answering

all

questions

show the

to

in

To have

a breath.

the horses stabled,

visitors their quarters, to question

them

as to

the purpose of their journey, and give orders for the repast,

was but an affair of a iQ.\\i moments. And while Epergos and Doxius were resting in the shade beneath the portico, and were being served with cold water and

man went

hither and thither, calling the

fruit,

the

little

women, scolding

the grooms, remarking that such or such a piece of furniture

was out of

certain caravan for

place, that a sheep

its

was behind

its

time,

must be and that

it

killed, that a

was the hour,

watering the garden.

Thanks spotlessly

to

the activity of the master, the house was

clean.

without a stain

Theagenes,

ways

;

vi^ere

differed so

The

walls,

lime-washed

inside,

were

and the servants, taking example from not at rest for a moment.

much from

These

active

the nonchalant habits of the

NORTHERN SYRIA. Orientals,

among whom

269

the travellers had lived for the

few months, that they wondered whence

last little

man

this stirring

could possibly have sprung.

When, during the evening meal, the family were assembled, Epergos and Doxius,

having answered the numerous

after

questions of their host, could not refrain from complimenting him on his activity and the excellent order of his dwelling, or

"Oh, I

from asking him

if he was born in the countr\-. Theagenes " I was born at Samos.

no," answered

;

have long been engaged

in trade,

Having made a

to Tyre.

Smyrna

money, and wishing to

little

spend the remainder of my days

coasting from

came here knowing that on these highways from Persia to Antioch, one may, with energy, double his substance in a short time. I rebuilt this house, which was dilapidated when I bought it and I hope, in a few years, to return to Samos with a in tranquillity, I

;

;

fair fortune."

" So," said Epergos, " "

No, certainly

passage, where

men

you do not belong what can one do here

.''

;

life is

hard, where

more

to the country.'' It is

One must make a

sible,

and to do

otherwise one estates

you see

who have if this

that, is

a place of

thieves than honest

are to be found, and where the population

changing.

is

continually

fortune as quickly as pos-

keep a constant and sharp look-out

quickly ruined.

in this

"

;

Three-fourths of the

country are in the hands of usurers,

ultimately dispossessed the original owners

;

and

goes on, the whole land will belong to the wealthy

people of Antioch, of interest.

They

who let

lend their

money only

at a dear rate

their estates at a high rent to

Greeks and Armenians, who

find

it

very

difficult to

both ends meet, and often decamp without paying.

the

make Thus

the love of gain and the want of money, which each day

makes

itself felt

Antioch, tend

to

more and more among the people of deprive that fine city of

its

source of

2

THE HABITATIONS OTMAN.

70

wealth

;

what would become of Antioch without

for

these stations, which enable caravans to

numbers across Arabia, Persia

convey

come

thitiier

such great

in

the products of

?

And

"

to

can you suppose that

men

will

continue to live

these sterile regions, unless they can hope

in

profits

for great

?

But," interrupted Doxius,

"

tion of Antioch, Christian

"Assuredly

;

" is

not this wealthy popula-

" ?

but Christianity has not caused the people

lose its usurious habits, in spite of the bishops

to

all

and

councils that have tried in vain to cure this Asiatic plague

among the new converts. toms among us, that many

But so inveterate are these cus-

among the most considermeans Thus of keeping up their rank and fortunes than usury. free men, who live their toil, all by see their most of the families

able and affluent have had for generations no other

gains

fall

into the

hands of the

people of their

idle rich

great cities which are resplendent with luxury.

It is

not

less true that the stations situated between Palmyra, Epi-

At the same commenced against certain Christian Byzantium was made the seat of empire, have

phania, and Antioch are being depopulated. time, persecutions sects, since

brought back to these countries families that were forced to leave the capital."

"What!"

returned

Doxius, "are Christians already

They have been dominant in Empire only for a itw years " Theagenes merely smiled, and wishing his guests " Good-night," alleging that he had to get up very early the next morning, he left them persecuting one another

!

the

!

to their rest.

When plans.

go

.*

alone,

Epergos and Doxius discussed

What should they do The West had nothing new

.**

their future

Where should they to offer

them

;

they had

NORTHERN SYRIA. visited every

quarter of

it.

They,

271

therefore,

determined

to continue their explorations eastwards, passing north of

ancient

Media and Bactriana, crossing the upper courses of

the Indus and the Ganges, keeping along the range of the

Emodi mountains, and continuing eastwards to

the extrem-

This plan was agreeable to Doxius, who had taken a dislike to the west, especially since the Empire had embraced Christianity.

ity of the earth.

"We

"

what has become of our friends of the Upper Indus their habits must have changed since the time we visited them." "Let us hope they have not," said Doxius. shall see, in passing," said

Epergos, ;

CHAPTER BUDDHIST *'

^

I -*-

XX.

INDIA.

^O what purpose, then, did Siddhartha, the Buddha, come among you inculcating poverty and the

renunciation of earthly goods in a tattered

;

why

did he clothe himself

shroud taken from a corpse

;

to

what purpose

did he enjoin charity on the rich, patience on the poor,

and acquiring

fasting for six }-ears

at the foot of the

Buddha and

attaining the Triple Science,

— since

Tree

name

of Understanding the character entitling to the

of

behold

I

throughout the country nothing but sumptuous palaces, temples magnificently decorated, convents provided with the comforts of

all

those

who

life,

proud priests taking no thought

for

are without shelter or food, Schatriyas bent only

on war and the destruction of men, and privileged castes

who hold in contempt their less Thus spoke Doxius amidst

fortunate brethren

a

?

numerous assemblage

gathered at Benares to discuss certain points of doctrine.

His words were received with murmurs of disapprobation.

"

Doxius continued

'AH human

:

"

What

says Siddhartha

.''

beings, whether of the lower, the middle, or

the upper castes, whether excellent, indifferent, or detest-

able in point of character, one-third is

a

in the

man

is

in

Error,

and

may

be ranged in three classes:

will continue in

Truth; one-third remains

it

;

one-third

in uncertainty.

Thus

standing on the shore of a pool sees lotuses below

the water, others at the water.

its

Whether

I

surface, others again elevated

above

teach or do not teach the law, those

BUDDHIST who

INDIA.

know it. Whether I who are settled in the

Error will not

are settled in

teach or do not teach the law, those

Truth if I

know

will

it

who

but those

;

273

are in uncertainty will,

teach the law, become acquainted with

do not teach the

know

law, they will not

it

;

whereas

if I

Who among

it.'

you, then, are the lotuses that are on the level of the water,

and that

above

flourish

undecided

surface

its

no one recognises the law, or

if

i*

— the are

good and the

in

Error:

he does know

it,

is

since willing

Charity, taught

by Buddha and practised

himself, ought to extinguish

every selfish feeling in

to submit to

by

who

see only those

I

.''

the

human

it.

heart

whereas

;

among you none Buddha says that we

see that

I

thinks of any one but himself

ought not to utter falsehoods, or even indulge frivolous discourse

whereas

;

in

vain and

have heard nothing but

I

deceitful or idle talk.

"Siddhartha preached humility of heart, and said to the professors of religion

your

sins

;

'

:

'

Conceal your good works and avow

yet no one confesses his sins twice a month,

with a loud voice, in presence of the congregation.

law of Buddha stand buried

On

it

is

simple and definite, a child can under-

But you

it.

in

!

What have you done

obscure casuistry.

this, cries

The

t

you have

." .

.

and threats succeeded murmurs, so that

Epergos had great

difficulty in getting his friend safe out of

the assembly. " I

must

say," observed Epergos,

a place of safety, "that proceedings.

When we

had no great share zeal for " It

is

in

Buddha and

I

when they had reached

cannot at

were

in

all

understand thy

the West, the Christians

thy esteem, and now thou art his precepts of morality

thou," replied Doxius, "

who never

full

of

" !

seest further

Buddhism is true, for it tends to arrest what thou callest the upward impulse of the human mind

than thy nose.

;

2

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

74

it

tends to thrust

man back

should never have quitted

into the nothingness wliich

and when

;

I

see th6se

Buddha, much

fess to follow the precepts of

who

pro-

eager to

less

Nirvana than to build sumptuous temples

attain

he

and

monasteries for their monks, and palaces for their nobles,

and giving themselves up to "

Ah

follow

!

my

friend,

I

kinds of pleasure,

all

not repress an indignation which

is

beg you once

deserved."

for all to let

humanity

Thousands of years have passed away when we were on the plateaus of Mount

destiny.

its

since the time

IM^rou, and

all

thy

efforts,

thy wrath, and thy counsels,

have not arrested the progress of that humanity.

mayst perhaps have been able the torrent

and hast fancied that the current was going

made

abandon Buddhism

will

;

for a

moment,

to stop.

These

to resign themselves to

the supreme good.

nothingness, and to consider that as

only in this world, but

Thou

throw a few pebbles into

to

thou hast seen the water boil up

:

beings, believe me, are not

They

can-

I

much

only too

for

they wish to

live,

not

in eternity."

Doxius's invective, which had excited the anger of a great part of the assembly, produced nevertheless a some-

what profound impression upon the mind of some of those present.

Kalanta.

Among them was a very rich merchant, named He had founded several sangharamas (places of

assembly) for those

he practised

who wished

charity,

The words

persons.

of

Doxius aroused

a great desire to have a person to

know

inspired

to discourse on the law

and had a great in

his

;.

affection for holy in

Kalanta's mind

house who seemed

the law so well, and whose solemn deportment

him with

respect.

He

sought him out therefore,

enjoining on his messengers to show the greatest deference for

Doxius's knowledge, and to entreat him to take up his

abode

for

some days

might consecrate

it

in

the palace of Kalanta, that he

by instructing

his family.

Prostrate

B UDDHIS T INDIA

275

on the ground, the messengers informed Doxius of

who wished

Epergos,

master's desire.

their

to take advantage

of this occasion to see the palace of one of the richest

inhabitants of Benares, joined his entreaties to those of the

envoys of Kalanta

;

two companions, mounted

so that the

on an elephant brought

in

the

Epergos passed

of this splendid abode.

in front

mansion

for the

— found themselves

of Kalanta was outside the city,

evening

—

for the purpose,

for Doxius's secretary.

The

vast gardens of the palace of Kalanta extend as far

as the Ganges,

From there

and venerable

overshadow

trees

banks.

its

the habitation, situated on slightly elevated ground, is

a view of the broad

verdure.

river, losing

the west

itself in

covered with vegetation of the most brilliant

in a plain

Towards the north appear the first slopes of the lost in a warm haze and on the west, the city

Himalayas

;

of Benares, with the wall that surrounds buildings, shining in the sun,

moored along

its

houses and

its

it,

storied

and the thousands of boats

its

squares covered with tents,

great parasols, and awnings of

The

all kinds.

purity of

the air enables one to distinguish, even at this distance, the

crowd moving along the banks of the great

river.

Arrived at the turn of the road that leads to Kalanta's residence, this magnificent

panorama

befose the eyes of our travellers,

is

suddenly displayed

who cannot

refrain

from

giving utterance to their admiration. "

Here," said Epergos, "

made an to wait

And

we have

a holy

upon earth

excellent choice of a place for annihilation,

to

man who

which he doubtless

in

has

which

aspires.

thou seriously believest, Doxius, that when one has

such a spectacle daily resign himself to quit " Silence

!

it

Epergos

end of their probation

!

;

before for

his

Nirvana all

who

eyes,

he can easily

"

Nirvana

!

is

are

to

human

beings the

endowed with wisdom

C

c

ii

4J

^

(1

O

10

Plan of Hindoo Palace.

GX_-

,20

— Fig.

79.

O

-

Q-

BUDDHIST INDIA.

277

ought to desire to reach the threshold of that palace which is

the termination of "

Come,

our host

and

;

all evils."

mood

see that thou art exactly in the

I

if

he does not take thee

for

to edify

Buddha, he must

be very unreasonable." "

"

Cease thy scoffing

"

Oh, don't be alarmed

The

travellers

and

!

!

A is thrown

across

not compromise thee."

They soon

number

it

will

which

their escort enter the gardens,

are admirably well kept.

canal supplied by a

I

reach the banks of a

of fountains

(fig.

A bridge

79).

entrance to the

in front of the principal

Epergos and Doxius having dismounted from

habitation.

their elephant, are introduced into the portico

On

for a vestibule to the palace.

portico, the

rooms C are appointed

B,

which serves

the two sides of the open for the porter's lodging,

and as places where the master's orders may be waited

From

these rooms there

steps to

the

is

an approach and an ascent by

main building through the porticos

through the court

The

with a fountain.

porticos

E,

or

by a basin abut on two small rooms F,

ornamented

D,

for.

in the centre

where the servants await their master's

exit,

and an elevated

portico G, which gives entrance to the great hall of assembly H.

To

the

a range of

left

of this hall, at

pillars,

I,

which serves

is

another

for a

for provisions.

Two

At

S

At K

conduct to the

story which contains, above the apartments

rooms opening on a projecting balcony

I

and

vestibule for the servants, with

its

steps

K,

first

bed-

at the side of the

At L

great hall, for the latter rises from the bottom.

At R

some

are

and T are kitchens and stores

flights of stairs M,

rising to the level of the

divided by

promenade, and where

the servants of the palace habitually stay. of the dwelling rooms.

hall,

N and

upper garden which

is

the

a terrace O,

is

are exterior porticos or covered promenades.

a platform.

Figure 80

exhibits a section through VX, which shows the arrangement

THE

278

J/.ini7'A770XS

OF MAN. The

of the rooms and of the great hall. light

and

air

latter receives

from above the terraces which form the roof-

ing of the apartments of the to the level of

The

first story.

stairs

ascend

two platforms, whence a view can be obtained

of the whole country.

Figure 8i gives the interior of the

great hall towards the far end.

Kalanta, seated in the portico G, with his legs crossed, on a rich carpet, was awaiting his guests.

Section of Hindoo Palace.

Without

he

rising

Fig. 8o.

signed to Doxius to scat himself opposite to him, wliile

Epergos and the persons of his suite remained standing. "

My

Thy

dwelling, Doxius,

discourse

is

is

honoured by thy presence.

that of a saint, and

I

am

anxious to con-

verse with thee respecting the interpretation of the law."

Then having made

a sign to his attendants, they

left

the

master and his guest alone.

Epergos,

more curious

know what the two he followed those who had

it

would seem, was

to visit the palace than to

sages said to each other

conducted him

thither,

;

for

under the pretext of arranging

Doxius's apartment conformably to his simple habits.

We

do not know what Kalanta and Doxius found to say to each other during the two long hours that followed. We must suppose that their conversation had a great interest for

Intkkiok of Hindoo PALACi£. — Fig.

3i. [

To face pag-e

27S.

B UDDHIST themselves, since

INDIA.

279

gave Epergos time to go over the palace

it

from top to bottom, accompanied by a person who acted

and was very desirous of exhibiting the beauties

as steward, •of

The

the mansion to the pretended secretary of the saint.

The

whole structure was of stone, bricks, and wood.

col-

umns, cut out of hard stone, were eight-sided, polished with the greatest care, and surmounted

The

sculptured.

up

•outside

and within

to the height of a ;

by

capitals delicately

walls, built of bricks, with facings of stone

man, were plastered without

the ceilings were composed of pieces of timber

;

corbelled out and ornamented with sculpture.

Notwithstanding the external beauty of

Epergos did not

to observe that

fail

ciple the rude structures

it

this building,

resembled

in prin-

which he had seen formerly on

Upper Indus. The composition of the great hall attracted His special admiration. The timber corbellings, so well adapted to

the shores of the

relieve the bearing of the great

outside

beams, and to form shelters

the arrangement of the interior balcony which

;

gave access to the bedrooms of the double gallery which closed

in

admirable distribution of light

first

story

;

in

the

in a soft half-light;

the comparative coolness of this lower part; ;

;

this vast interior, the

whole of whose lower part was immersed spread with carpets

the sort of

the back of the hall

the floor

the sobered brilliance of the paintings

;

the rich appearance of the ceiling resplendent with gold and

azure

;

and the quiet of the

into his

On

place,

mind a kind of vague but

—

all

tended to breathe

delightful ecstasy.

the pretext of arranging certain very important notes

which Doxius had entrusted to him, he asked the steward to leave

on one

him alone

for a

few moments, and seating himself

of the divans which occupied the corners of the hall,

he began to meditate.

"What

a strange being

is

man!"

said he to himself

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

28o

"

he can forget nothing

and

;

the vast improve-

in spite of

ments which the course of time introduces into the trace of his •he w'as

or of the

first efforts,

The

first

it

other

in

the one reaching Media, the

;

bears with

struction in w^ood, but

branches diverge

in a south-westerly, the

a south-easterly direction

other India.

his works,

influences to which

Two

subjected, always recurs.

from the same trunk, one

first

is

peoples

who hollow

raise a

kind of den of clay

traditions of a con-

it

developed

out their dwellings ;

it

the midst of

in in

the ground, or

constructs those Assyrian

palaces with their vaultings and their thick earthen walls, exhibiting of

all

the time in this concrete structure the trace

wooden buildings. The other branch is among those races which are inferior in power mind, but among which the handicrafts have reached a its

primitive

developed of

considerable degree of perfection faithful to its traditions,

ed by the peoples

some

it

whom

;

and while remaining

makes use of the means employIs there not here

subjugates.

it

vestige of the construction which

I

formerly observed

that, too,

Fau who showed us the door, and mingled with the Aryan traditions of the con-

querors

And

in

the house of that fat

.'

did not the Ionian architecture itself exhibit

some

striking relations with

hall,

the courts

features which

among

I

what we see here

surrounded find

among

b\-

porticos,

The

t

are

great

persistent

the Aryas at their very cradle,

the Egyptians, the lonians, the Greeks and the

Romans,

and again

here.

All present differences,^

and yet are substantially the same.

Infinite variety in unity.

in Persia,

"And why do

those primary elements of construction

reach a purer form

among

the Greeks, whereas elsewhere

they tend to become obscured

t

Why among

the Greeks

do we find that rational selection and moderation to form, that sobriety which

is

in regard

so charming, and which

leaves the wish for fuller development

.^

Why

do we

find

BUDDHIST INDIA. here this profusion of strange and sometimes grotesque sculpture which suggests abuse and satiety this

be so

?

Greek

settled in

those

What

cause

is its

Why

?

their

should

because the Aryas

it

mingled with a certain

soil

who took up

Is

?

who

race, whilst

abode here found another already

Must we consider the products of human

powerful?

intelligence as proportioned to the special aptitudes of each

race and

admixtures

its

complicated and

appear to

me

And

!

The more

?

difficult of solution

in

I

the course of ages,

which are scarcely known to each have frequent and intimate

observe, the

more

do these problems if all

these nations

other, should

come

to

what will be the result of the mingling of these traditions and of these various

influences

Will

it

?

Will

it

be

relations,

for the better, or for the

worse

?

be the irremediable decay or the culmination of the

products of

human

intelligence

" ?

monologue for some Kalanta and Doxius had not entered

Epergos would have continued considerable time,

if

his

Their conversation must have

the great hall.

left

a deep

impression on their minds, for neither of them appeared to

be conscious of the beauty of the place

The sun now

themselves.

near

its

last rays in a horizontal direction,

lofty

openings of the hall

the ceiling,

all

;

in

which they found

setting

was darting

its

through the large and

and above the luminous

sparkling with gold, appeared to

rise to

dust,

a pro-

Every projection shone forth in brilliant and the pavement seemed a mirror reflecting the

digious height. relief,

mixture of colours with which the walls were covered.

Epergos advanced to meet the very ground,

humble secretary consider for a

he

is."

his eyes.

said

:

"

of the sage

moment

his host,

and bowing down to

Give permission.

Doxius

to

beg

Sire,

his

to

the

master to

the splendour of the place in which

Doxius, appearing to start from a dream, raised

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN. " It

is,

in truth,"

said he, " very beautiful

comparison with the Triple Science

in

"Well," said Epergos to himself, "he

any

or at

rate he

but what

;

is it

?

is

decidedly insane,

endeavouring to render our host more

is

insane than he was before."

During the three following days' sleep alone interrupted Epergos

the conversations between Kalanta and Doxius.

took advantage of the mystic absorption of his companion to visit the environs of this beautiful

and was not greatly surprised

abode

:

he ascertained

at the fact, that the houses

of the inhabitants belonging to the inferior castes were of

very different character to the magnificent palace of his

For the most

host.

bamboos

of

"

part,

made

they were wretched huts

or of tempered clay with rushes or thatch.

can very well understand," said he to Doxius one

I

evening,

"how

who occupy

the inhabitants of this country

the miserable dwellings

visited this morning, should

I

be

eager to accept the law of Buddha, and that they should aspire to annihilation as the end of their miseries

can scarcely believe that Kalanta and can long remain letter,

the

first

its

adherents.

all

who

they followed

If

it

ed

in

them on a footing

of equality.

persuading Kalanta to do so

to the

thou wouldst know that

all

and to

Hast thou succeed-

" .-*

" If thou wast acquainted with the doctrine of

Buddha,

creatures, in proportion to their

merits or faults, pass through successive states less

I

him

thing incumbent upon them would be to

distribute their wealth to all these poor wretches, live like

but

;

live like

more or

approaching or removed from perfect knowledge and

wisdom.

Nirvana

Kalanta

If in

in

a

position

complete security and

because he has already trials

is

in

free

to

from

in

which he

is

cares,

it

is

other bodies passed through the

necessary for attaining that degree

humanity,

meditate on

in

the scale of

able to repose and meditate until

BUDDHIST INDIA. his death.

may

he

If

whom

the precepts of the law,

all

fulfil

thou hast been speaking

by searching earth,

to

fails

back into the miserable condition

fall

those are of these,

upon

he

283

to

it

in

men

for all are not placed

;

all

duty to

facilitate their acquisition of the

"

And

"

Nirvana is

at the top of the ladder

and it is even a means of so doing,"

that

is

to say, the

what

:

to be found

is

end of

trials,

?

—that

end

the nothingness from which the world issued."

is,

then, not worth while to

"Thou for

;

But he

can ascend higher in the scale in

the series of transmigrations they undergo

"It

Buddha

same grade of wisdom and knowledge.

preached Charity; for

which

and similarly

;

a better condition.

never preached equality amongin the

which

during their time of probation

for truth

may return

in

wilt never

mount

so high."

comprehend these mysteries, Epergos

thou art narrow-minded and altogether absorbed

;

in

earthly things, and affectest to disdain supreme wisdom." "

What

dost thou say

of these mysteries,

!

We

we have

have already seen so

listened to so

many who have

pretended to the knowledge of absolute wisdom

they were scarcely agreed it

resides

—that for my

as thou allegest,

I

as to thyself, have

may I

among themselves

part,

many

— though

as to

where

without being narrow-minded,

reasonably have

my

doubts.

not seen thee embracing

in

And

turn and

proclaiming as the acme of wisdom the theogony of the Egyptians, the theology of the Assyrians, and subsequently the politico-religious system of the find thee a Buddhist.

Very good;

Romans I

.''

see no

and now

harm

I

in it;

me the liberty of belonging to none of them, without calling me narrow-minded." " What thou callest an infatuation for different forms of Truth, is in fact in my case — as with human beings

but do allow

only a desire to

know and

Like other thinking beings,

to attain that absolute truth. I

am

ascending the steps of

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

284

the ladder, and wliat thou imaginest to be contradiction

is

only transformation." " I

must not be

the doctrine of

surprised, then,

Buddha

nearer to absolute truth "

Possibly

"

Thou

coming

if I

see thee

" ?

" !

art in doubt, therefore,

and we are not

Buddha

merge

lead to absolute

Nirvana

in

—

if

How

could truth

there might possibly be

another teaching, wiser or truer than that doctrine, therefore,

is

only relative

;

and

This system of

.'*

is it

to doubt the absolute validity of that which "

Thy

from

far

wisdom and

to an understanding with each other.

the teaching of

— which

abandoning

another which thou deemest

for

not allowable is

relative

" .'

mind, Epergos, has been profoundly corrupted

by staying too long among the Greeks

:

I

observe

it

con-

tinually." "

to

me

when thou art come the end of thy arguments, thou art wont to have Permit

to say, Doxius, that

recourse to abuse

thy sojourn

;

among

and

this

has been thy wont, not since

the Egyptians or the Assyrians merely,

but ever since the beginning of the world."

Next morning

the travellers

quitted their host,

who

loaded them with presents, and entreated Doxius to come to see law.

him

often,

and confirm him

in the

knowledge of the

CHAPTER

XXI.

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE FAR EAST.

ON

leaving

Ganges

;

Benares, our

travellers

ascended

remarkable beauty,

for

it

seemed as

if

the charms of all the

climates of the globe were united in this region. in

the

they came to mountainous countries of

Sometimes,

wide valleys, was to be seen a luxuriant tropical vege-

tation

;

while a few hours' walk would bring

them

to forests

and larches on the slopes of the mountains, to wild gorges and peaks covered with eternal snows. Enormous

of

firs

edifices cut in the rocks in

the faith of the people results of

human

;

honour of Buddha,

to revisit the

see whether this ancient cradle

many or

wood and Upper Indus, to of the Aryas, whence so

industry were miserable huts of

Epergos was anxious

reeds.

testified to

and by the side of these prodigious

nations had issued, preserved

had suffered a transformation.

its

primitive simplicity,

The

travellers reached

the valley of Cashmere, which they had descended centuries before.

ence

in

They could

scarcely observe

any

many differ-

the customs of the dwellers in these highlands

;

they were building their houses just as they built them formerly.

Their physiognomy was the same as

they had

retained

the simplicity of their manners, and

tribes continued to

emigrate westwards, since towards the

it

had been,

south the land was already occupied.

Having ascended the course

of the Indus, they reached

the plateaus of Thibet; there nothing had been changed

houses of the villages were detached as formerly.

No

;

the.

cities

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

286

were to be seen, and the inhabitants were engaged only

in

the chase, the breeding of cattle, and the exchange of certain

products of their

own country

for

wrought metals and im-

plements of various kinds which they obtained from CashIn the countries where

mere.

wood abounded,

the houses

— trunks of

were made of timber at the corners

with bark.

— and

trees piled up and framed by projecting roofs covered where wood was scarce, these

protected

In the deserts,

houses were constructed of rubble stone put together with a poor kind of mortar, or with clay in

when

there was

neighbourhood, and covered with trunks of

the

any

trees,

brushwood, and a thick layer of rammed earth.

There

is

no sight gloomier than these abodes, always them from the winds which

built against the rock to protect

at these altitudes are terribly violent, buried

snow into

months

for eight

in

the year, and lost amid solitudes

which the traveller dares not venture.

steep slopes are covered with verdure

months which found on the

this season lasts,

mowing

store as possible of the

The

difificulty

;

In

summer the

and during the four

numerous

loftiest of the prairies,

lose no time in

beneath the

flocks are to be

while the inhabitants

the lower parts to lay

in as large

a

abundant forage which they produce.

of sustaining

life

in

such inhospitable

regions has from time immemorial induced their energetic

Epergos inhabitants to go in search of milder climates. and Doxius therefore came across the track of bodies of these emigrants,

who were

to be seen, like their ancestors,

coming down from their moimtains with waggons, in which were the women, the children, and such movables as they were obliged to carry with them.

While they were ance was

in perfect

Epergos said "

resting in a village

to his

harmony with

whose rude appear-

the country

(fig.

82),

am

that

companion:

Well, art thou not as strongly convinced as

I

t

,3*

~~'

-t

^ ^

-^f-^ase:-^-*^-

Himalayan'

ViLL-\Gr-

—Fig

iIl^>v

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE FAR EAST.

287

these Aryas cannot develop'the qualities with which Nature

has endowed them, except

contact with other races

in

?

Here, in the vicinity of their cradle, things are as they were

many thousands as

if

tile,

of years ago, or nearly

they, like their

but destined to

would seem

It

so.

mountain home, were rude and

fertilise

Look

the plains.

at those

infer-

snow-

clad summits, those far-stretching heaps of rocky debris, the ruins of the peaks, this valley strewed with pebbles through

muddy

which run those tortuous streams of a

torrent, these

occasional breadths of verdure, these ravines worn ice,

and these rocks rent by the lightning only.

and death

tacle suggests only dislocation

to these ruins

;

by the

This spec-

yet

it is

owing

and snows that vast regions are covered with

a fertile alluvium."

"Yes," said Doxius.

"And how

immense

must have been the work of valleys, and thus converting the ruins of rocks, that seem unchangeable, into a fine dust spread over immense spaces, which are soon Nature

smoothing down these

in

covered with a rich vegetation

men they must descend from ;

!

.

.

And

.

thus

with

it is

the heights and mingle with

foreign elements, to constitute the finest civilisations."

"To what

retorted

purpose.''"

What " Have " Thou

travail of

is I

thy reason not seen

it

and error

}

?

often

enough

hast, like myself, seen

"since

these

"

for this assertion

civilisations lead to corruption

"

Doxius,

" .-'

only one part of the great

Nature, yet thou art always ready to draw sweep-

ing inferences and final conclusions from the observations of the

moment.

Here

is

a torrent which

—

in this valley,

nothing only heaps up pebbles and them along. It seems disorderly, useless, devastating. Must we thence conclude that this torrent is only an agent of destruction } Go ten days' march down the plain certainly, produces

whirls

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN. and thou

made

wilt see these waters,

turbid b\- the

tri-

turation

of the

pebbles incessantly fretting against one

another,

become

tranquil and limpid,

their shores the alluvium in

then be

Do

a hurry to judge or to infer from partial

in

when thou knowest not what " I

and depositing on

which the lotus grows. be the

will

not

effects,

final results."

cannot admit principles which would tend to nothing

short of justifying everything, and regarding error itself as

necessary." "

Remark,

I

pray, that

my

deductions

—

I

it is

My

that are in question.

not principles, but observations

method

to observe, reserving

is

my

do not say

conclusions

observations throw light upon a series of

Doxius, thou concludest a

thee,

temper

if

but

;

irresistible force.

"

losest

my for

thy

;

and thou regardest

all

mechanism moved by

Truth and Error

attract

thy attention

and thou dost not seek to make the one prevail

equally,

and

As

but thou never observest anything

that strike thy senses

that exists in this world as a kind of

an

and

till

observations run counter to thy conclusions."

"Yes, thou observcst facts

prioj-i,

—

facts.

to suppress the other."

Suppress

we must

suppress

!

It is

I

easy to talk about

is

very mischievous

in its course;

;

but

That torrent down

takes for error ma}' not be truth. there

it

know, before suppressing, whether what one

first

it

:

it

destroys ev^erything that

lies

renders sterile a valley that might be cover-

ed with verdure

if it

did not indulge

its

humour

for incess-

antly moving those heaps of pebbles from one bank to

another

;

suppose

I

suppress

it,

then

are no longer irrigated, nor fertilised it

;

— the plains of India

by the alluvium which

elaborates." "

Thou always

supportest thy reasoning on the order of

things in the material world." "

And

on what, then, wouldst thou have

me

base

it ^

On

JOURNEY THROUGH THE FAR EAST

A T\^irvana I

Can

?

be assured that there

I

be assured that the souls of

men

it ?

"We

upon these

"

shall never agree

Probably not

The

a Nirvana

?

Can

pass into a succession

"

bodies before reaching

•of

is

289

subjects."

" !

their course for a considerable

travellers directed

time along the chain of the Himalayas, then, having crossed

Mien mountains occuThence they went down to the countries formerh^ visited by them and inhabited by men of the yellow race. There they ascertained that progress was very gradual. On the banks of the rivers bamboos continued to be used in building, and the dwellings the Brahmapootra, they passed the

by savage

pied

tribes.

scarcely differed in point of construction from those of the fat

The

Fau.

oped

;

art of carpentry, however,

had been devel-

and advancing towards the north-east, they found following the arts and less remote from

peoples

improvements

in

them which a long

those of the south.

those

practice secures, than

Usualh^, however, the houses of these

peoples were built very slightly and simply.

Wood, which

these countries furnished in abundance, was almost exclusively

employed, with

brick,

in

burnt or sun-dried.

Many

of

more than a covered space closed

these houses were nothing

with walls of wood, within which, as occasion required,

the\' set

up

partitions

formed of mats. The dwellings of the

wealth}' consisted of a series of pavilions

more

or less apart

from each other— each containing only one or two apart-

ments

— isolated,

wooden

galleries.

or

communicating by means of

Thus

light

these dwellings, w4ien extensive,

resembled a village interspersed with gardens carefully planted and cultivated. a rich

man

anew.

If

it

to pull

was

was a

It

down

falling into

ted himself with erecting

rare thing for the son of

his father's

house and build

it

decay through age, he conten-

by the

side of the old buildings,

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

290

new

pavilions differing very slightly from those which

was abandoning

he

These houses consisted only of

to ruin.

a ground-floor, covered with very projecting roofs artistically wrought.

In this country, more than in any other, the traditions of the past were religiously preserved

were not allowed to sojourn through

in

Buddhism had been

it.

;

strangers, therefore,

scarcely even to pass

it,

widel)' diffused

among

these peoples, but in a diluted form, being limited certain superstitious practices. its

doctrines was obscured

legends.

Doxius observed

The

by a host

of this

this with pain,

but his companion

fruits

houses

studying the

in

patient, laborious, nature-loving

Never had Epergos seen so many rare flowers never so many paintings and carvings in the

people.

and

industrious,

and ridiculous

of crude

only laughed, and was greatly interested arts

to

elevated character of

;

;

never so

many

articles of

domestic use elaborated

con amove ; never such a masterly use of the metals.

seemed

him as

to

if

these

men

delighted

in

creatinsc

It

an

endless variety of wants, in order to have the pleasure of

them by the most complicated and singular methods. They wove silken stuffs of marvellous beauty and delicacy, and skilfully ornamented them with metallic threads. The ceramic art was carried among them to the

satisfying

utmost limits of perfection and their white clay pottery was enamelled with the most brilliant colours, and embelThey especially lished with the most graceful designs. excelled in representing the flowers and elegant plants of ;

their gardens,

and domestic animals

—

as

if

accustomed to

meditate on the productions of nature, and love them with passion.

In Cathay, where our travellers stopped for a consider-

able time, countries,

Epergos to study the manufactures

of

its

and Doxius to endeavour to preach the law of

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE FAR EAST.

291

Buddha, they hired a small house, which was only one of the pavilions before mentioned, consisting of

with some indifferent

This pavilion

(fig.

Z'^

accommodation

was constructed

two apartments,

for

the

servants.

entirely of wood, and'

placed upon a platform of dry stone-work, with a small flight of steps before the single door.

Cathayan House.

ture,

In point of struc-

Fig

nothing could be more simple: posts, connected by

stays, carried horizontal beams projecting outside, by brackets, and kept in place by a system of wall-plates strengthened by braces. On the ends of the clips

and

relieved

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

292

beams rested the eave-plates which received tlie rafters. All was so curiously fashioned, perforated, and painted, that the aspect of this pavilion, amid the verdure, was delightful to the e)-c. The windows were filled in with upright bars of turned wood, behind which curtains of stuff

were drawn at night

The

if it

w^as desired to

in

cold.

roof was entirely covered with very thin plates of

copper ingeniously turned up ]^y

keep out the

means of

in

the

same manner

shutters which opened above the

as

tiles.

windows

the height of the wall-plates, ventilation could be obtained

through the intervals

left

between them,

for the ceiling

was

placed upon the bracketed beams.

The

spaces between the posts, and beneath the windows

were closed

in

with boards.

Epergos, though he reflected that these wooden structures

were derived from the early buildings he had formerly seen erected by the Aryas, and to whose improvement he

had contributed, did not conceal from himself that

this love

of the complicated, this elaboration of details, this multitude of minute precautions, were a peculiarity of the }'ellow race.

The

Arj-as he concluded had been able to exercise

only an ephemeral influence over this race, which was

developing

at

arts in conformity with its

its

He began

to recal

Athens, and

of the

immense

in

own

genius.

^hat he had seen during

his sojourn

the cities of Hellas, and assured himself

interval that separated the

works of these

descendants of the Aryas from those of the yellow races of

Greeks had

the extreme East.

While

fully simplified the

forms suggested by the structure and

the materials emplo}'ed

;

his friends the

skil-

while they were moderate in the

use of ornament, and used discrimination in reproducing material objects, the }-ellow races of the East seemed to

take

pleasure

plicated,

to

in

making the simplest

be lavish of ornament, and

structure to

com-

delight in

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE EAR EAST. representations of strange monsters reflected further,

— could

it

lers

in

to impression than the

this

country are

little

they

know

little

?

Have they

Greeks?

a

No, assuredly; the dwelprone to seek the higher

Their written works do not exhibit

any excess of imagination. satisfied

— Epergos

be admitted that the inhabitants

greater love for the stupendous

spheres of thought.

and yet

more hvely imagination, a mind

of these countries had a

more open

;

293

Their mind

is

practical,

of heroism or of lofty ambitions

;

and

they are

with a quiet and obscure existence, provided they

Whence comes

enjoy material comforts.

works of

art

it

then that their

sometimes display a bold, fantastic

Time

disordered imagination.'*

passes on and

spirit,

a

new peoples

come under my observation while the problems which at first seemed to me easy of solution are becoming obscure. The preaching of Doxius among these peoples had not the success he expected so when Epergos told him he wished to visit other countries, he made no objection. ;

;

CHAPTER

XXII.

THE NAHUAS AND TOLTECS.

DIRECTING

their course to the north-cast,

and Doxius inhabited

b)'

men

Epergos

for a long while traversed vast regions

of the yellow race.

But on advancing

to the north, they reached the limit of the inhabited countries,

and found themselves

in the

midst of icy deserts.

Having crossed an arm of the sea, they set foot on a new continent. For a long time the\- pursued a descending course towards the south along the western slopes of a long chain of desert mountains,

when they reached a

region of

remarkable beauty.

There they found busy races of peoples, among civilisation

had reached a considerable development.

They belonged

evidently to two very distinct races, one

very superior to the other and holding

The

whom

inferior race, in

the yellow race

;

some

it

in

particulars, strikingly

subjection.

resembled

not that which then occupied Cathay, but

the peoples settled in the great islands of the Pacific Ocean the superior race, whose skin was copper-coloured, was

and robust, and pretended

to a divine origin.

It

tall

could not,

however, be confounded with that of the Ar}as, any more than with that of Ancient Egypt.

This vast country, wonderfully favoured sents a great gulf on the side

and

is

b)-

Nature, pre-

washed by the Atlantic Ocean,

crossed from north to south-east

by

a lofty chain of

mountains, whence flow numerous streams fed by great lakes.

THE NAHUAS AND TOLTECS. The

295

elevation of these mountains, and of the plateaus

that form their base, causes a variety of climate.

For,

though the plains are extremely warm, the elevated parts •are

temperate, while the tops of the mountains are covered

with snow.

As

there

is

no want of water

lower lands are immensely

during the hot season,

The

fertile.

•encloses the gulf on the south,

is

in

any

part, the

peninsula, which

the only part dried up

mountains are of no great

for its

height; but deluging rains water this district during three

months of the

year, and the inhabitants have succeeded in

constructing large tanks which preserve the water, or have

hollowed out great caverns into which flow deep under-

ground natural watercourses, which are hidden from view dry season.

in the

priests,

who

The lower

class

These people are governed by kings and •

are versed in astronomy and sacred lore.

are absolutely dependent, and are subjected to the most painful labours

;

for the

country possesses neither horses

nor beasts of burden, and the -are

employed

in

manual labour.

men

of the inferior class

the porterage of goods, and in

They

all

kinds of

are gentle and submissive; whilst

the chiefs of the various states that occupy this region are •often at

war with each

other.

Epergos and Doxius found -cities,

where

all

testimony to a isation

important

in these countries

the arts had been long cultivated, and bore civilisation of ancient date.

been developed

imported from abroad

were very ancient;

Had

in these countries, or

.''

It

was evident that

for at the

visited the country of the

this civil-

had its

it

been

sources

time when our travellers

Olmecas and the Nahuas, they

had proof that the buildings contained records of

traditions

.already corrupted.

Epergos, inquisitive as usual, wished to learn the opinion •of

the priests and sages of the country respecting their

TIJE lIAJUrATIONS

296

and

origin,

curiosity

;

OF MAN.

easily found an opportunity for satisfying his for these

peoples are not hostile to foreigners,

having never had occasion to complain of ill-treatment from

One

them.

named Nimak, who discharged

of these sages

Uxmal

the functions of supreme judge at cities

(one of the chief

of the peninsula), contracted a friendship with the

travellers,

and undertook to inform them of the origin of

the Olmecas.

"In the beginning," said Nimak, " all was immovable; calm and void was the immensity of heaven. There was then neither valleys

man

nor beast, no woods, birds,

The

the heaven alone existed.

;

was covered by peaceful waters. nothing moved

The

darkness.

;

stones, or

fish,

face of the earth

Nothing was connected

no sound was heard.

;

All remained in

Creator, the Former, the Ruler, the Serpent

covered with feathers, and the germs alone, were on the

They concerted with each

water.

earth to rise out of the waters

;

on

other and caused the

trees to shoot forth, the waters to flow

to stand erect to each

:

;

they caused

this earth

and the mountains

then they created beasts, assigning

its

place

but these could not utter the names of the gods nor

do them homage. of red earth

;

Then they determined

to create

man

but this was not successful, and the body

was dissolved in the water. They afterwards made men of wood these spoke, reasoned, and reproduced their kind but they had not intelligence, and did not retain the ;

;

remembrance of their Former and Creator; yet they existed in large numbers on the earth. All the creatures rose against them and they were almost all destroyed. Their posterity

may

be seen

woods, because their "

There was

little

in the little

flesh

apes that

was of wood

light

on the face of the earth, for

man was made of

flesh

of his power, and ruled over the apes

and

the sun was dim, and

live in the

alone.

;

he was proud

all

the beasts..

THE NAHUAS AND TOLTECS. When

they had greatly multiphed, these

from the north

in tribes,

297

men came down

and occupied these

countries, as

also a great land situated towards the rising sun

the sea

But

for

;

knew already how to make use land was swallowed by the waters

they

this great

a flood destroyed

all

men alive." "You are certain

beyond

of boats. .

.

.

and

the cities of the Nahuas, leaving only

a few

"

Our

"

Ah

said "

"

"

}

objected Epergos.

Nimak.

was not this land that was swallowed up Atlantis

Another

his

so,"

Greek

story

;

friends," replied Doxius.

continued Epergos; "but here are

who have never heard

same Then

of Plato, and

yet relate

be so good as to continue, sage Nimak."

and

to raise

them

;

but he was killed by

and Xbalanque, who were the

civilisers of

first

Hunahpu men, and

Similarly in our time

destroyed the power of Xiballa.

Nahuas have conquered the Chichemecas-Ouinames,

whose tyranny they could no longer endure.

who rebuilt the cities of the Peninsula." "And how were those cities built which the conquests of the "

who

the giant Cabrakou began to shake the mountains,,

to depress

the

.'"

companion.

fable of thy

"I was thinking

the

it

writings say so," replied !

Epergos to

people

of

Nahuas

It

was they

existed before

" .''

Their houses were rude and built of wood and unhewn

stone joined by mortar."

"And who had

taught those primitive peoples to build

"

way } The conquerors of Xiballa." " And who were these conquerors

in that "

"Men of great "And whence

stature

" ?

and wickedness."

did they come?"

"

From

"

And whence came

the North." the

Nahuas

" .''

THE

298 "

H.iBJTA'JJONS

Also from the North.

who

into tribes

elect chiefs,

OF MAN.

They were and

the Jackal, the Parrot and the Crow, the "

What

" It is

still

are divided

and who are masters of the Fox,

Ant and

the Toads."

"

are thc\-

?

we designate

thus that

the indigenous tribes that

have been subjugated, and whose labour supplies us with all It is they who cultivated the white the necessaries of life. maize and the

\-ello\v

maize which serves for food

;

it

was

they who once showed us the road to Paxil." '•

Where

is

"

Paxil

.'

the fertile and marshy countr)' watered by the

" It is

Uzumaciata and the Tabasco, between

tributaries of the

the sea and the mountains." "

And

"Yes

was

it

;

where the

b\'

And

"

for

On

fire

Nahuas came

the North,

hither.''"

— from countries

from the cold, and where

of the god Tohil."

what consideration did the god Tohil grant "

the tribes

fire to

down from

tribes suffered greatly

they obtained the "

that route that the

they came

.''

the condition

that

the}'

human

should sacrifice

victims to him." "

And do you

continue to offer these sacrifices

"

We

it

fire

and

do

for

;

was on

and the principle of to give us light.

been invoked, and

fire

this condition that

all life

we

— the sun to warm

Those who

" .''

received

all

nature

lived before Tohil

had

obtained, were in darkness and

ice."

Well, but Doxius and I not long ago traversed dark and frozen countries and came southwards, just as your tribes did in former times we have not sacrificed any human being to Tohil, and }'et the sun does not refuse us "

;

either

its

heat or

its light."

" Certainly, but the people generally do not look at things in that

way

:

the)'

must have a

nothing from the divinity

if

visible sign,

they

offer

and they expect

nothing to him.

THE NAHUAS AND TOLTECS. Besides, the sun

weather, as

withdraw

is

sometimes extinguished

light

He

and heat from them.

be implored since he threatens, and

demanded human

in the clearest

men

Tohil were threatening

if

299

that he would

must, therefore,

was he himself who

it

victims before our entrance into Paxil."

"

Art thou certain of

"

The

Nimak

it,

sacred signs indicate

it

;

" t

and the signs can never

deceive men, since the}- are exhibited in order to teach

them

Besides,

the truth.

deluge, which destroyed

it is

all

certain that at the time of the

men — except

refuge on the sacred mountain

ness which lasted twenty-fi\'c suns

and

all

those

who took

—there was a period ;

of dark-

and the human beings,

the beasts that had not taken refuge on the sacred

mountain, were changed into stone."

Epergos did not attempt to discuss these strange tions,

which greatly perplexed him;

agreed with those of other nations •country,

for in

far

Some days

tradi-

points they

remote from

and who could not have had, as

connection with

some it

this

appeared, any

it.

Nimak,

afterwards,

travellers, secured an

at the request

of our

opportunity of showing them one of

the finest palaces of the city of

Uxmal — the

residence of

governor Nahualt.

its

must be stated that these

It

cities

of the peninsula are

very extensive, their streets wide and laid out that the houses of the people are

made

of

in

line,

wood and

cla}-,

very low, and covered entirely by terraces which comso that while one may traverse may also go through the city on these many cases these houses are partly hollowed

municate with each other streets,

its

terraces.

out

in

At

;

one In

the ground to mitigate the heat.

various distances, wide flights of steps, hollowed out

in the rock, lead

down

to tanks or rivulets below, thus afford-

ing a supply of excellent fresh water.

But

at the close of

300

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

summer, these concealed but always abundant springs, wliich exist at a deptli of thirty cubits

had recourse

and more, must be

to.

The dwellings belonging to persons of distinction among Nahuas are built on wide platforms, under which tanks

the

are hollowed out in the rock, or built of stone and carefully

Plan of Nahuaii Palace.

Fig. 84.

These palaces are all built of stone and are very sumptuous. Figure 84 gives the plan

lined with a very hard cement.

THE NAHUAS AND TOLTECS.

301

of the residence of Chumucil-Chunil (Principal centre). is

situated at one of the extremities of the city, and

It is

surrounded by gardens.

Near it is a tcocalli, or great truncated pyramid, surmounted by a temple. The avenue which leads to the palace is wide, and overlaid with cement.

ends

It

in a fine flight of

steps giving an ascent to the platform and the principal

entrance A, which passes through a building

Next we have a great

court

B,

in front.

with a cemented alley

in

the middle, along which are poles for the support of awnings.

At

the farther end of the court

some

building D, raised E,

are

steps above

two other buildings nearly

it.

is

On

alike.

the principal cither side, at

At C

are the

openings of the two great tanks which extend under the court.

made under the main building to The noble owner lives in the range of farther end. The three other ranges are dependants and menials. At F are two down to the gardens.

Cellars are also

store provisions

building at the occujDied

by the

descents leading

in.

These blocks of building, arranged

Section of Naliuan Palace.

present the section figure 85.

in

the

same way,

— Fig.

The

structure consists of a

great mass of rubble-concrete united by excellent mortar,

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

302

with stones exhibiting designs and carvings of the strangest

The

description,

interiors,

which are Hghted only by the

doors, are constructed with stone facings laid overhanging

and supporting a narrow

These

ceiling.

The

covered with paintings and hieroglyphics.

made

the doors arc nature.

Two

wood

of a very hard red

are

interiors

lintels of

of a durable

long beams projecting from the two sides of

the principal doors are designed to support an awning for

The The aspect

shelter.

roofs are terraced

and cemented.

of this mass of buildings

is

carefully deter-

mined. Figure 86 gives a bird's eye view of the main building, with the extremity of the two lateral buildings, the platforms, the secondary entrances, and the great tcocalli close by, the gardens, &c.

avenue

is

It will

be observed that the central

covered with awnings fastened to poles, and

ending with the projecting shelter of the central portal.

This group of buildings did not impression on our travellers, for

it

fail is

to

produce a lively

immense

to have been the work of

many

in extent, It

seemed

generations, yet

Nimak

and covered almost completely with carvings.

assured them that this palace had not taken more than four years to build.

Epergos was astonished

to find such

a simple arrangement of plan with so advanced a style of art

;

the latter appearing to be even on the decline.

examined the facades of these ranges diftered

from each other, but were

all

He

of building,

which

very splendid.

The

drew wooden

exterior decoration of the principal range especially his attention

;

for

it

consisted of an imitation of

brackets, with trellis-work in the interspaces, although

was

entirely of stone.

Here there was doubtless the

tion of a structure of wood.

stones, side

by

At

it

tradi-

other points, billet-shaped

side in a vertical position, evidently repre-

sented an assemblage of trunks of trees close together.

View of Nahuan

Palace.

— Fic

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

304

But the facade of the western building especially attracted above each of the doors was carved the

his observation, for

most singular decoration imaginable

87); and, above

(fig.

the surbase, a wide frieze formed of alternate scrolls and trellis-work.

Each

like the pieces

stone, with

carving,

its

Some

on a chess-board.

had been placed

of these environ-

ing stones above the doors were hieroglyphs, which

Nimak

explained to the travellers.

At each

of the corners of the blocks of building were

carved, one above the other, three enormous and grotesque heads.

who remembered

Epergos,

Greek, and Indian

art,

the productions of Egyptian

surveyed

all

this with

more aston-

ishment than admiration. Doxius, on the contrar\%

who had

felt

no great

interest in

the accounts given by Nimak, remarked an air of grandeur, ])ower, majest}', order, It

and

should be observed that

by painting which,

regularit}all

that

at a distance,

gave

this decoration the

appearance of a most magnificent carpet. the pieces of furniture,

made

charmed him.

these carvings were relieved

In the interior,

of wood, were likewise covered

with these strange carvings and colouring, enriched with

gold and

silver.

The

furniture consisted of beds or very

wide benches, with a great number of small

ornamented gilded.

stools,

and vessels of

The apartments occupied

tables, highly-

terra-cotta, painted b}'

and

the master and his

family, dift"ered from the others only in a greater richness

and profusion of these pieces of with which they were covered

;

furniture,

and the

stufifs

which were finely woven

of wool, bark of trees, or fibre of aloes, while elsewhere

mats replaced these

What

room distinguished "

siufts.

especially struck Epergos,

Where

in size

from the

are assemblies held

.'"'

was the absence of a rest.

he asked of Nimak.

^toiiJi(y^^—1-^-" Portion of Exterior of

Nahuan

Palace.

Fig. 87.

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

3o6

"Chimucil- Chunil, the master of the house," replied Nimak, "following the custom of the great men of the Nahuas when he wishes to assemble a considerable and he never assembles any but number of persons, All our his peers, convokes them in this vast court.

—

—

—

assemblings are held out of doors, at sunset or sunrise the daytime the heat

for in

of persons remaining thus in the open

apartments are used only

it

under tents

is

solemn

certain

occasions

Or

were eaten, but prepared

are

this

—

ever}'-

;

we have meals

if

sacrifices

for

in

abandoned.

is

to

Tohil

The

viands

by specially-appointed

and brought to each guest, according to

In

example.

victims sacrificed

custom

outside

closed

but that takes place only on

human

times the

ancient

:

The

air.

for meals

for rest or

one takes his repasts at home.

common,

;

too oppressive to allow

is

his

servants,

rank and

quality."

"I understand; but the Nahuas did not bring " architecture and this skill in art with them

this

.-*

No

"

;

countries

lower class of

the

people that

were already advanced

Nahuas conquered the country was or

by

these

but what they produced

The

have brought these artisans to work voluntarily force,

built for

and so have had temples,

cities,

and palaces

them, worthy of the race of the Nahuas.

have established rules as the rest.

for everything

They have appointed

— buildings

any one from transgressing them. ments of dwelling-houses, even cannot be altered for the law ;

exactly as you

see.

The

They as well

councils of sages,

are commissioned to maintain these rules,

rules,

in

when the

and unworthy of the conquerors.

irregular

latter

;

live

in the arts,

and

who

to prevent

Thus the arrange-

for persons of distinction,

directs that they shall

sculpture itself

which every one must observe.

It is

is

be

subjected to

the

same with

THE NAHUAS AND TOLTECS.

307

the style of building, and the construction of tanks and

When

roads.

a building

undertaken, the master-builder

is

One

gives each one his task.

the smooth stones,

cuts

another the carved stones, and each must finish within the day what

prescribed him

is

these parts of the

;

then

work put together

the

master has

in front of

the rubble

backing." " I

cannot help remarking," said Epergos,

" that these

which are of pretty much the same size, are none them bonded together, but are placed side by side, and one upon another without breaking-joint." " These facings are held by the mortar of the rubble stones,

of

backing." "

But

me, Nimak, do

tell

principal building,

of timber " In

former times, buildings were

why we

But what

" Because

in

fact thus

and corbelling out

is

the good of that,

when

the material has

seen ancient buildings thus fashioned,

remembrance of them,"

have you ceased to use timber

your palaces and temples

many

in building

" .-•

them were destroyed by because they harbour serpents, ants, and all Only the poor now employ wood vermin. Because

of

houses, and they are careful to plaster

returning to their lodging,

companion "

Do

is

"

to preserve the

And why

On

made

that

;

.-'

we have

and we wish

"

the

preserve this appearance."

been changed

"

that

t

of timbers, superimposed

"

you not think

though of stone, simulates a structure

it

fire

and

;

sorts in

of

their

with earth."

Epergos said to

his

:

not these nations appear to thee, Doxius, to have

passed without transition from infancy to old age

"Why

so

" .''

" .-'

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

3o8 "

Because these

Httle

removed

state of things,

in

edifices

we have been looking

at are

point of arrangement from a primitive

and yet

in structure

and decorations present

symptoms of decadence. " That grotesque sculpture, monotonous

in its profusion,

mode

of

construction adopted, denotes an art corrupted before

it

and reproducing forms which do not belong

to the

was developed. "

This can only be explained by the tyranny of a

superior caste over a population of craftsmen and artists

already advanced in the use of

arts,

dictates of blind unreflecting caprice.

everything in a

is

the absence of reasoning

What then are we among the Nahuas

dream.

grandees cells, all

one seems to be

or Toltecans

.''

And

life

of these

who

live in

yet these habits, which by impli-

are so simple, are accompanied

exterior tive,

;

to think of the

exactly alike, just as compartments for animals

would be made cation

who follow the What shocks me in

but

show of luxury

—

a

luxury which

and has no concern with

have seen nothing

like

it

by a prodigious is

simply decora-

an}' real requirement.

We

on the face of the earth."

Doxius looked grave and did not answer. He was asking himself whether these men would be in a condition to comprehend and accept the law of Buddha for he was still inflamed with the apostolic zeal which had proved so ;

unsuccessful

in Catha}'.

Doxius attempted,

therefore, to

but the chiefs and the to understand, that

if

Nahuan

his

preach to the people

priests

gave his companion

proceedings were continued, they

would be under the necessity of tearing his heart from his bosom, as an offering to Tohil and Doxius took the hint. ;

The}', therefore, diverged westwards, to the shores of the Pacific.

There they found populations of harmless

position, of

whiter

skin than the Nahuas, subjected

dis-

to

THE NAHUAS AND TOL TECS. a sacerdotal government, and

who appeared

a purer branch of the same race.

309

to belong- to

In this country, as in

the peninsula of Yucatheca, there existed an inferior class,

W>'^i

Peruvian House.

Kig.

brown-skinned, short, robust, and subjected to labour of all

kinds.

The ordinary

habitations of the country consisted of a

walled inclosure built of unhewn dry stones, covered with

THE HA BITA 1 IONS OF MA N.

31o

trunks of trees Avhich

and on

laid close together horizontally,

was compacted together a thick bed of earth mixed

with gravel and carefully plastered

(fig. %Z).

The doors and windows of these dwellings were formed of two stones meeting at the top the interior, divided into ;

two or three compartments, gave

shelter to a family.

Despite his regard for authority and dislike for discussion,

Doxius himself experienced an excessive weariness

amidst these inert populations. to preach his

;

words glided from

He

marble.

There also he attempted

they listened or appeared to

felt

their

minds

like

him, but

listen to

water on polished

away

that his labour was thrown

contrary to what was generally the case,

;

and,

was he who

it

persuaded Epergos to make a move, and to quit

this

continent.

Beneath

this lovely sky,

beauty, Epergos began

To him ful ease

this ;

and amidst scenery of enchanting to meditate

on

all

he had seen.

country seemed like a garden formed

he reviewed

his recollections

and

let

glide by, looking at the flowers in the fields,

through the forest,

for rest-

the days

and the sky

foliage, listening to the countless voices of the

and asking himself whether he had not found the

Elysian Fields of the Greeks.

When Doxius

informed him of his wish to quit this land,

Epergos smiled and contented himself with answering "

Let us

jTo

" !

:

CHAPTER

XXIII.

THE SCANDINAVIANS. ^/^~\UR

travellers returned along the western shore

^-^

crossing

they

bent their

countries

way

by

occupied

through

eastwards

;

then

mountains,

lofty

wild

regions

inhabited only by tribes dwelling in the midst of forests,

and

living

of stature

on the products of the chase and

and copper-coloured, they had no

inhabited huts

made

Keeping along

the

of branches shores

of

the

river,

arm

on a land inhabited by

set foot

tint,

with

hair

black and

made

of dwarfish stature,

straight,

of pebbles and earth,

They

seal or rein-deer skins. fish

they came to of the sea, and

and repulsive

Scattered thinly along the coasts, they lived in

features.

conical huts

and

men

and

leaves.

which they

ocean,

•countries of arctic climate, crossed an

olive

arts,

covered with

reached again after passing a wide

Tall

fishing.

;

for the

and covered with

subsisted exclusively on fat

country produces nothing, even during the

months of summer, but grass and lichens, which serve as food for herds of rein-deer. Epergos and Doxius did not tarry long in these regions and having three or four

;

again crossed the sea, countries in

:

they reached the Scandinavian

thus, after a long absence, they found themselves,

the seventh century of our era, again in Europe.

Many

changes had occurred

since their sojourn in

Rome.

in this part of the

The

few provinces around Constantinople, had, fallen into the

globe

empire, reduced to a in

the West,

hands of barbarians who had come from

3

THE

1

the iiorth-cast of Islam

But

and

;

from Arabia.

Scandinavia,

—the

OF MAN.

the East, had yielded to the hosts

in

invadin;::^ it

in

Northmen,

— the

travellers

land of

Danes and

the

were out of hearing of these

There they found a population remarkably active

events.

and

JIA BITA IJOXS

and

enterprising, inhabiting a cold

sterile

soil,

and

undertaking expeditions to the neighbouring coasts more

The young men passed

favoured by climate. sea

;

for

their time at

they possessed the art of building strong vessels of

considerable length, in which they did not fear to face the

tempests.

Even during the rough weather of Autumn and

Spring they were seen preparing their expeditions.

Then

putting to sea, they would steer towards the coasts of Britain or the land of the Franks, enter the rivers, land

unexpectedly

villages, abbeys,

and

into their hands,

and

neighbourhood of

in the

towns, carry off everything that

fell

immediately re-embark to secure

their booty.

They would

often even stay on the coasts, in

out-of-the-way cove

would

;

some lonely

and, taking advantage of the position,

fortify the heights,

and swoop down

like birds of

prey upon the inhabited places. Intrepid, formidable fearless of death, they tion,

who dared

bi)th

in

stature

and vigour, and

were the dread of the coast popula-

not attack them

in their holds.

Their vessels then served them for dwellings Left dry on the shore at high

and oars the

sailors

tide,

(fig.

89).

with the help of masts

formed a sort of roof over them, on

which were stretched two triangular

sails,

for

they had

always one to spare.

When

they had acquired booty enough to satisfy them,

they betook themselves to sea again and returned home. In their country there were towns whose houses were built entirely of pine

the mountains.

wood, which was very abundant on

THE SCANDINA VIANS. Epergos was not a

little

surprised to find in these habi-

by him, and even

tations the structural elements observed

improved under

313

his direction,

many

centuries before on the

Upper Indus. But the habit of building vessels, acquired by the inhabitants, had introduced considerable improve-

Norman

ments

in the

Boat.

Fig.

execution of these timber houses.

The fram-

and strongly joined some were even ornamented with carvings bearing a rude resemblance tothose which decorated the buildings of Northern India. ings were carefully

It

was the same with the woven

;

stuffs fabricated

among

THE HABITATIONS 01 MAN.

314

them

their colouring

;

and designs incontestably resembled

those of the fabrics woven on the slopes of the Himalayas.

The

religious beliefs of the Scandinavians also resem-

With the

ble the earlier beliefs of the Aryas.

latter,

they

imagine that the men who are the bravest and most

dis-

tinguished by their noble actions on earth, are elevated,

beyond the tomb,

to the rank of

not dread death, but even seek

gods

it

in

;

that

some

is

why they do

glorious exploit.

human beings to propitiate the gods, and the males of beasts. The body of the victims is suspended in the sacred wood near the temple of Upsal, not far from They

sacrifice

wood

the town of Birka, and the trees composing this

are

regarded as sacred. Tiiey acknowledge the authority of military chiefs or kings,

and have among them noble families descended from

heroes.

These kings do not exercise a despotic authority, but are obliged to assemble and consult with the most illustrious of the nobles before engaging in any enterprise.

The men

of Scandinavia unite with this courage and

intrepidity which nothing can daunt, a love of gain,

extraordinary cunning.

All are skilled

in

and

discovering the

means of eluding the most solemn oaths, if the fulfilment of them is prejudicial to their interests. With a view to this there is

no subterfuge or finesse they

Those who reckon upon

their simplicity,

of their manners, to entrap

ensnared themselves

;

bition, their rapacity,

them

in

will

not employ.

and the naivete

any way, are

infallibly

for their penetration equals their

and

am-

their prudence.

Like their Aryan ancestors,

it

is

their

custom

to build a

great hall in their dwellings, in which they assemble their equals and retainers.

There they

deliberate, settle differ-

and give banquets which are prolonged for several days and nights, and which frequently i.ssue in brawls. ences,

THE SCANDINAVIANS. If

315

an expedition to a neighbouring territory promises

great

we select, as commanded by

they

results,

unfrequented

beach,

mouth

peninsula at the

some

above,

said

promontory or

a

of the river, and

there

fortify

themselves so as to have a place of refuge and defence in the event of a failure, until another expedition comes to

hence they are very careful always to keep

their relief:

communication with the

themselves

in

them and

their

people

is

booty from

ing the sea so rapidly, as these

The

men

no other

for

;

or capable of cross-

of the North.

among them

group of buildings of various dimensions and

arranged without symmetry, but with reference to the

The most

convenience of each. ble villages

small

life,

which secures

habitations of persons of distinction

consist of a uses,

pursuit

all

so inured to a maritime

sea,

or

;

for

large,

each apartment

extensive of them, resem-

— or nearly so —

according to the

is

a house^

requirements.

These

juxtaposition, just touching at one

houses are either

in

point, or apart, in

which case they communicate by very

low wooden passages.

Roofed with pine shingles or slabs of

schist, these dwell-

ings are of one floor only, and are often even partly sunk in

the ground to secure the inhabitants more effectually from the cold.

Palisading, hedges,

dwelling, for the their

men

independence

;

and ditches surround the

of this country are very tenacious of

and even the towns rather resemble

an agglomeration of establishments, each with than a collection of houses v/ay.

in

its

inclosure,

juxtaposition along the high-

To prevent the accumulation made very steep.

of

snow upon the

roofs,

they are

The Scandinavians breed horses, and are good riders. The broad meadows of their country supply forage for these animals, which are, moreover, inured to hardship.

In their maritime expeditions they do

not hesitate to

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

3i6

take their horses with them

in

their capacious boats,

they carry off those which they meet with they invade

;

in

and

the country

thus they readily form bands of formidable

upon the hamlets they pillage, and rejoining the main body of their

cavalry, falling unawares

and then

armed

retiring

force.

Figure 90 gives the plan of one of the above-mentioned

detached habitations.

At A

is

the entrance, a foot-bridge

Flan of Scandinavian HLlU^c.^FIG. 90.

across a fosse, on whose escarpment

hedge.

At

B, is

the great

hall,

is

planted a^quickset

whose roof

is

supported by

a double row of posts.

A

wooden porch

of which a hearth

gives access to a hall is

constructed.

It

is

C, in

the middle

there that

the

THE SCANDINAVIANS.

317

family stay in winter, and the viands are prepared. inhabitants

even

severe cold.

At

sleep

in

these

D, are the living

ing the temperate season. servants and for strangers.

The

apartments during the

rooms of the famih' dur-

At E, the hall At F, a large

reserved for the stable

and barn

for forage.

Figure 91 presents the view of this habitation from the

View

point

P.

filled in

To

of Scandinaviiiii Hull^e.

The openings which

— Fig.

light

91.

the

apartments are

with perforated wood, presenting fanciful designs.

prevent draughts, sheets of

talc, in

the dwellings of the

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

3i8

wealthy, or of asses' skin in those of the poor, are fastened

on the insides of these openings, admitting a dim

The smoke roof,

escapes through wide openings

and sheltered by a kind of movable

lowered at pleasure to close the

As

previously mentioned,

light.

left

louvre,

the is

orifice.

the roofs are covered with

shingles of pine-wood overlapping like scales, or in districts

in

which

some

with large slaty stones.

The timbers are painted in very lively colours forming The elders among the Scandinavians assert

interlacings.

that the dwellings of their forefathers were circular.

The Scandinavians have

a great regard for trees, and

their habitations are surrounded

bv them.

CHAPTER

XXIV.

GAUL UNDER THE MEROVINGIANS AND CARLOVINGIANS.

TN J-

Gaul the empire of

Rome

memory.

survived only in

This large and beautiful country had been invaded

by the hordes from the

north-east, which,

assuming

first

the character of allies of the empire, had gradually settled

by permission

by

or

force, in the basins of the

Marne, the Oise, and the Seine, Senones, afterwards on the

country of the

the

in

Loire and

Meuse, the

in

Southern

the

provinces.

These immigrants brought with them none traditions of art,

vaguest

to those of the Gauls.

but

and handicrafts very

the

inferior

In the course of two centuries,

mingled with the peoples of Gaul, they had been converted to Christianity

but they did not the

;

incessant struggles with each other,

less

keep up their

by which the

latter

days of the empire had been ensanguined.

Divided into tribes attached to their these

barbarians,

nevertheless,

in

several

chiefs,

accordance with

the

customs which had been for ages preserved among them^

had not

settled in the

districts

;

and recognising at chiefs

The

whom

in

the rural

;

first

no other authority but that of the

they had chosen.

ancient

existence

Gallo-Roman towns, but

thus forming isolated and independent groups,

Roman

they were

vill(B

were adapted to

accordingly occupied,

this

kind of

and these

barbarians took possession of the lands surrounding them

;

endeavouring to extend their borders at the expense of

weaker neighbours.

TJIE

320

HABITATIONS OF MAN.

Thus it came to pass that some of them acquired a marked preponderance, and set up as petty sovereigns, making war on their own account, with the aid of the inferior chiefs who were their vassals, their retainers, and the coloni, or cultivators of the soil which they had The Gallo-Roman unity was, however, suffiappropriated. ciently compact to oblige the new owners of the soil to reckon with it. That splitting-up of authority was disliked by the nation, and the ablest of the Frank chiefs, supported by

its

traditional tendencies, succeeded

selves proclaimed kings

Gaul was thus able

to

organisation, the chiefs in their habits,

by

recover a

in

of the

part

who governed

having them-

While, politically,

their peers.

it

Roman

made no change

but resided almost always away from the

centre of population.

The power which

those

first

kings

had arrogated to themselves was incessantly contested, and was with

difficulty transmitted.

Dagobert was the

men

first

who

— relying on

the support of

of the free class, and of the nations which cherished

the recollections of the prosperous times of the empire,

and vanquished the great

attacked

vassals,

and could

regard himself as sovereign. It

was

at this

epoch that Epergos and Doxius landed on

the territory of the Franks. forget

his

Doxius had had time

dislike of Christianity.

traditions of

to

The mythical Aryan

which the Scandinavians had preserved only

rude remains, appeared to him no longer able to sustain themselves.

On the

other hand, the confusion which prevailed in Gaul

among the nations that had remained Gallo-Roman and the new rulers, and the ruin of that Imperial organisation which he had once so greatly admired, had brought new light to his mind.

Perceiving the determination with which some

of the bishops of Gaul struggled to maintain, amid this

GAUL UNDER THE MEROVINGIANS, dismemberment of law, morality

became a

and

society,

321

what remained of civil liberties, Doxius did not hesitate. He

civilisation,

Christian,

convictions

ETC.

and an enthusiastic one.

His new

soon became tinctured with the somewhat

intolerant spirit natural to him.

Epergos, according to his wont, contented himself with observing; not believing in anything as fixed, but seeing in

every phase of humanity only a transition towards a worse

Our two companions were further than ever from agreeing. Doxius saw no salvation for or a better condition.

society except in the establishment of a theocratic regime

;

and denounced the obstacles which the character of the warrior chiefs, and the

Romanised spirit of the people were it. Epergos was continually subject, proving to him by facts of

bringing to bear against rallying

him on

this

daily occurrence that the influence of the bishops over the

people at large and the higher classes increased

in

propor-

tion as they confined themselves to their pastoral functions

and did not aspire vassals

to power.

Besides, those great Frani-c

and Dagobert himself, Christian as they were,

could not be said to observe the moral precepts of Christ.

They had

slaves,

and as many wives as they could keep

they displayed a barbarian ostentation, and,

if

;

they gave

and churches with one hand, they pillaged with the other. monasteries and churches

to monasteries

The

royal court presented a strange spectacle

;

there

were to be seen persons distinguished by their sanctity side

by

side with courtesans, favourite slaves

living at the

expense of the prince

;

and ruined

vassals,

and envoys of courts

mingling with vagabonds ready for every crime.

Devotion and debauchery were equally conspicuous, and there

was but a step from the

altar to the scene of riotous

dissipation.

Dagobert habitually resided

in his vilke,

sometimes

in

^^8!%^"^^^^^»-"^

^

View of Merovingian

I'illa.

— Fig

'j2.

GAUL UNDER THE MEROVINGIANS, one, in

sometimes

in another,

ETC.

the provisions accumulated

till

those great agricultural centres were consumed.

full

323

Doxius,

of the zeal of a neophyte, had been taken notice of

Elis^ius,

a

Christian,

whom

man

by

of sense, a skilful worker in gold, a sincere

and favoured with the confidence of the king,

The knowledge possessed by Epergos was also appreciated by Eligius, who was curious in all matters pertaining to art and handicraft. Our he continually attended.

travellers were, therefore, invited to villcB to

sent

spend a

them

iz'N

go to one of those royal

days with Eligius, who wished to pre-

Dagobert as distinguished personages who

to

could give him information respectingthe northern countries.

The a

hill,

villa in question, figure 92, situated

on the slopes of

not far from the banks of the Oise, was surrounded

by woods abounding court

in

hunted.

often

game,

in

which the king and

Notwithstanding

exterior aspect of the dwelling

its

his

the

extent,

was very simple, and

re-

minded them of Gallo-Roman establishments of a similar kind. The principal entrance closed by palisading, consisted of a court of no great size, with two buildings containing the porter's lodge, and some waiting-rooms for strangers.

This led into a second court of larger dimensions

surrounded by low wooden porticos, fronting the apart.

ments of the persons directly attached to the prince.

At one

corner of this court

This

high.

upper story

is

is

the

is

a square tower four stories

special residence of the

From

The

by a passage,

by a

portico

It is in this hall that

court.

is

On

the

one

side,

an immense kitchen.

On

frequent assemblings and banquets are held. it

is

the ground-floor of this tower

a communication with the great hall

which overlooks a third

and joined to

king.

only a covered platform, from which there

an extensive view. there

is

the other side, a portico running along the court of the stables,

which are lower, with a special entrance

;

and again,

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

324

beyond, a building allotted to strangers, with

its

special

entrance.

These erections are

built of small

with mortar.

All the roofing

Roman

The

tiles.

is

squared stones jointed

of timber, covered with

interiors are coated with painted plas-

tering and lined with rude wainscoting

;

the timbers are

also coloured.

At some

distance off

is

a large chapel, and next to this

are the dwellings of the coloni, which are low, thatched, and

mean

in

king's

vi/lcB,

appearance. yet

it

This

is

one of the smallest of the

contains accommodation for two or three

hundred persons, including the household slaves and dependents

—

for the latter sleep generally

In the absence of the king,

showed our villa.

under the porticos.

who was

hunting, Eligius

travellers the various buildings constituting the

Their curiosity rather than their admiration was

excited by what they saw, for they met with nothing that

was new to them. These buildings rudely resembled the

Romans

;

rural houses of the

and the ornaments that decorated

their interiors

By

presented a singular mixture of luxury and poverty.

the side of Oriental fabrics of inconceivable richness, with

which the beds and benches were spread, were walls covered with barbarous paintings executed by the most unskilful hands.

The woodwork and

plunder or

relics

furniture were the spoils of

from some ancient buildings

brought delicate works of

;

and they

art face to face with the

produc-

tions of rude handicraft.

Eligius

made

a point of calling his visitors' attention to

certain pieces of furniture decorated

by him with

plates of

and which he thought very beautiful

gold and

silver,

Epergos

felt his

attempted eulogiums stick

and Doxius said not a word, thinking been more profitabK- employed

this

;

but

in his throat,

gold would have

in relieving

the misery that

GAUL UNDER THE MEROVINGIANS, abounded.

who was

Eligius,

ETC.

325

a good-natured man, did not

take offence at this lack of enthusiasm on the part of his

—though he intended

guests,

some time

to ask their opinion

or other.

An

at table.

Epergos, addressing Eligius said

opportunity presented

when they were "Thou art too

itself

:

enlightened a man, Eligius, not to be able and willing to satisfy m}^ curiosity

pened that the

on one point.

.

tlu'self that,

among

columns that

How

.-'

is

it

.

still

"" !

childhood

Roman

what the

rival

.

,

.

Why

canst thou

left

us,

are rude

us and of which

"^

replied Eligius, " in

wilt

"

have specimens

Alas

a high

For thou

that the various articles,

compared with what those pagans have "

.

and ornamental, which thou hast shown

useful

we

.

hap-

the works of art which

and admiring the purity of the work. not produce the like

it

Thou wert showing me capitals came from a pagan monument,

empire bequeathed to you. shafts of

.''

none that can

this villa contains, there are

and

has

Rome, which had attained

arts of

degreeof perfection, have thus declined have observed

How

.

.

I

my

have worked ever since

the hope of attaining that perfection which

and have been able to secure but

art exhibits,

imperfect results.

Schools are wanting

;

the disasters which

Gaul has experienced have distracted attention from the practice of the

much

During a long period,

arts.

as people could

what purpose would

do to preserve it

was as

And

to

have been to erect buildings or to

fabricate furniture or jewellery ited

it

their lives.

.''

Any dwelling

that exhib-

an appearance of luxury was plundered and reduced

to ruins.

Hence the

artists

and craftsmen of

earlier times

died without having a chance of transmitting their art or skill to

the next generation.

Ignorant, therefore, and unac-

quainted with any other calling than that of

knows, what kind of war!

— they have

Avar,

fallen

— and God

back into a

condition of barbarism as ""ross as that of the hordes

who

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

326

invade our country.

It

but recently that

is

The Frank

able to resume the arts of peace.

fond of luxurious display

Emperors of the

of the

they attempt to

:

we have been

They must have

East.

apparel and furniture, and jewels set in gold

fancy that

chiefs are

rival the

pomp

splendid

and they

;

they arc covered with the precious metals

if

in

such quantity that they can scarcely walk, they are displaying their power and their love for the beautiful. "

But thou,

Eligius, canst not

and obtrusive luxury king,

why

this coarse

dost thou not endeavour to show him that true

dignity requires ing.s,

;

be seduced by

and since thou hast the ear of the

him

to be simple in his apparel

and that the grandeur of a prince

perfection of the arts practised " If thou wert to live

by

and dwell-

consists in the

his subjects

" .''

some time among us, Epergos, thou by which Gaul is

wouldst

know

afflicted,

and wouldst ask thyself

the extent of the evils

— as

I

have often asked

—whether this people are not a chosen race

myself

.

.

.

since

they have survived such an amount of shame and disaster.

"The hope

of seeing Gaul rise again one day from

degradation sustains experienced,

—

me

m\-self,

in the

most of

midst of the I

all.

am

trials

its

we have

witness here to a

thousand reprehensible and criminal deeds.

Christians in

name, these people commit acts which pagans would have reprobated

violence, cunning,

;

in the courts

this people

among

and treachery predominate

those Frank chiefs

examples of wisdom,

for sacred things.

who ought

self-restraint,

to give

and respect

All, in spite of the decrees of the Church,

take a number of wives, reduce-wholc peoples to slavery,

and freely indulge sensualists

by a

their passions

;

prodigal and avaricious,

and devotees, destitute of

faith yet panic-struck

portent, they appear alternately arrogant

inebriate

or

penitent.

.

.

Sprung from the people,

.

I

What

can

I

and humble,

do

therefore

love the people, and close

t

my

GAUL UNDER THE MEROVINGIANS, eyes to so to relieve I

can

of

it,

much violence and crime it when occasion offers.

effect

is

but

little;

but

since he sees that

as

am

I

may endeavour aware that what

God takes account

it is,

making the best of the generous among our rulers. For you

and when

;

give themselves up to

is

God

is

my

witness that

retirement to the part

heap of corruption I

am

The king,

evil.

as they

much

in spite of so

perverse, often shows glimpses of a noble soul made

to govern. fer

to virtu-

such arise in their hearts the\^

them with the same passion

display in the pursuit of that

my

discover

I

must not suppose that these men are inaccessible ous sentiments

327

cannot do more, and that

I

efforts are all directed to

impulses which

little

tliat I

ETC.

rewarded

compliance.

God and

.

I

.

.

justice,

I

should infinitely pre-

play at court; but

if

from

this

can sometimes extract a fine pearl,

my

for

I

patience, which

many deem

guilty

Those who, full of zeal for the cause of have assumed the part of bitter censors

of our rulers' morals, have

had only the empty

satisfaction

of unburdening their hearts; shamefully proscribed, persecuted,

and even

killed,

they have had the

glor}' of

martyr-

dom, but they have not broken a single chain or alleviated a single calamity. otherwise.

I

I

have thought

therefore close

every opportunity of doing a "

But," objected Doxius,

"

my

it

more

beneficial to act

eyes to the

evil,

and

seize

good."

little

thou art none the

the

less in

enjoyment of the comforts and advantages which the confidence of the prince, and the rank thou holdest at court,

secure to thee."

"Thou

speakest like a novice," replied Eligius

hast never lived at court,

— certainly not

;

"and

at the court of a

Frank king. Know then that there cannot be a more irksome condition to him who pursues the good, the splen;

dours and pleasures of the court wear a veil of sadness

most dainty viands are nauseous

;

sleep

is

;

the

disturbed

by

THE JIABITATIONS OF MAN.

328

painful dreams,

and even the marks of the

surrounds us with ambition,

who

He who

thorns.

prince's favour

only pursues his

seeks to supplant his rivals and to triumph

in their humiliation,

and who sees

his wealth increased

by

the favour of his master, may, perhaps, enjoy days of frenzied pleasure too often followed b}' a bitter reaction for

him who

ence of his

desires to preserve the purity

soul,

and who

is

promote

justice

neither rest

and console misfortunes

nor

joy

the good

:

never complete, for he has to

sand

rapacious hands

they can tries to

seize.

If

but

avails himself of the royal favour

not to increase his wealth to the detriment of his to

;

and the independ-

that

he perseveres

in

secure the triumph of what he

to

rivals,

but

him there

he accomplishes

rescue

clutch

;

it

from the thou-

at every shred of his

is

it

endeavours and

deems

just,

it is

by

blandishments alone that he can obtain the slightest favour.

At court, while the most impudent solicitations on one's own behalf are thought perfectly justifiable, suspicion and liatred are the lot of him who asks that a wrong may be redressed; since ever\' case of reparation

who

unmasks

generally has the ear of the prince, and

a thousand calumnies to ruin you. ... If

Doxius,

him the

I

I

who

a criminal will invent

had an enemy,

would bring him to court and endeavour

prince's favour.

." .

.

to gain

CHAPTER

XXV.

THE SARACENS. ^zy Sicily a pre}^ to IN Empire of Constantinople fell

jewels

The

in its

Moslem

inv^asion,

and the

thus lost one of the finest

crown.

Saracens, as the invaders were then called, far from

ravaging the countr}- and pillaging the towns, introduced into the island an

advanced

civilisation,

and succeeded

in

establishing various branches of industry which enriched

the country

;

silken tissues in

especially the fabrication of those beautiful

inwoven with gold and

demand throughout

the West.

silver

They

which were then

divided the island

into three valley districts administered b}' cadis,

government of a supreme chief who resided

under the

either at

Messina

or Palermo.

Greek and

Roman

art in Sicily

had

fallen,

under the

last

emperors of the East, into the lowest stages of decadence.

The Saracens resuscitated these arts, though giving them a new direction, and without in any way imitating the remains of ancient buildings still extant. They brought with them methods of construction then

in

use in Egypt, and on the

coasts of Africa, of which they had been masters for three centuries.

Palermo, Messina, and Catania were beginning to recover

from the degradation into which the government of the Eastern emperors had allowed them to

fall.

The

ancient

walls were repaired, roads were opened, aqueducts were

bringingthe water from the mountains into these

cities,

and

sumptuous palaces and mosques were replacing the ruins

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN,

330

caused by the devastations of the Vandals, by time, and by the carelessness of the inhabitants

districts,

and

who were

distracted

by

Nevertheless, the population of the country

dissensions.

and even of the

preserved their customs

cities,

religion without interference

from the Aglabites, or the

who succeeded them.

Fatimites

this period, the

Contrary to the habit of the Christians of

power did not persecute the conquered peoples

Mussulman

on account of

their religion

but contented

;

itself

with

exacting from them an absolute submission to authority,

and a

They were allowed

tax.

worship, on condition of not

to preserve their form of

making

a display of

it

outside

their temples.

Saracenic buildings and Christian churches and dwellings

were therefore to be seen side by side

in

the

peoples might be seen in juxtaposition, as

each

in its

own

cities.

it

Two

were, living

fashion, devoted to manufactures

and com-

merce, under an arbitary but wise and prudent authority,

and not supposing that there was any advantage

in oblig-

ing people to believe in this or that dogma, provided they fulfilled their duties as citizens

Epergos and Doxius

was

and

lived peaceable lives.

visited this island

at the height of its prosperity-,

cupidity of

the

stalled in Italy,

terrible

about 1050.

It

and was exciting the

Normans who were already

in-

where they had been warring, sometimes as

mercenaries, sometimes on their

own

account, since the

year 1035. Since the time of their conversation with Eligius, our travellers

had had many adventures, and

the principal

— to mention only

— Epergos had been entrusted with important

missions in the East and in Spain by Charlemagne,

high value on his extensive knowledge.

commissioned to bring

He

who

set

had been

to the emperor's court certain

Greek

and Arab manuscripts, and to translate them with a view to

THE SARACENS. promoting tivated of

331

the monasteries the study of the sciences cul-

in

among

the Orientals, and teaching geometry, the art

making conduits

for water,

improving the land, cultivat-

ing fruit-trees, building, and painting, in conventual estab-

Thus during nearly the whole of Charlemagne's Epergos had been fully occupied, and had had but

lishments. reign, little

intercourse with his friend Doxius,

retired

—the

latter havincf

convent and disapproving the novelties

a

into

introduced by the emperor. " It so

happened that Christianity," Doxius would say to him when they chanced to be together, " was introduced into the world at the

moment when

was yielding

tottering to

its

barbarians.

It is this that

God

fall,

the

Roman

to the onslaught of the

proves the divinity of

thus clearly showed that

He

Empire,

its origin.

reprobates, as a deviation

from the course traced out for humanity by Him, those civilisations

but which

His Son

was

clear

which have been so greatly admired by

all

said, ;

end '

in the

most abject corruption.

Blessed are the poor in

!

spirit

'

thee,

Has not The field

primitive man, like a mighty river overflowing

its

banks, was beginning to inundate the lands in which tares

had been sown broadcast. comprehensible by

'

Behold

all intellects,'

my

law, simple

said Christ;

and

his

and

Father

soon proceeded to diffuse over the ancient world those

pri-

mitive natures which alone could accept and follow

Is

it.

it

not opposing the decrees of Providence and running counter to

its

manifest intentions, thus to endeavour to knit again

the broken threads of the pretended science of the ancients,

preserved

among

the spirit of evil infidels,

of

who are evidently instigated by The emperor goes to fight against the

nations '^.

yet he asks from them those elements of pride and

knowledge by which men have been ruined.

who knowest whither

this vain science leads

And

thou,

them, art not

content with obeying the orders of the prince, but must

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

332

encourage him to give them Satan possesses thee "

Come, come

my

have devoted

me

done

thou art well aware that this

mine

to aid

is

All rcvoir

At

Thy

.'*

I

:

vocation

in its

it

am

unrest of

good Doxius, don't be angry.

services to Satan

the honour to acquaint

thou have

The

done.

!

my

!

it is ill

;

"

is

course

off to

— who,

me

I

with his intentions

nothing new

is

If

however, has not

;

what wouldst

to stop the terrestrial machine, ;

what

Bagdad

is

the use of disputing.^

!

had been present at the invasion by the Normans he had had another

a later date, Epergos

Frank

of the

territory

;

glimpse of those rude, cunning, rapacious, grasping, unbelieving

men

he had recognised his former acquaintance

:

the Scandinavians,

who were endowed

persistent energy

and would reply

;

with a powerful and

who was

to Doxius,

then lamenting over the burning of the convents and the

towns: "But, friend Doxius, of what dost

pillage of the

thou complain

Is not this the latest surge of that flood

.-'

by Providence, and which is invading anew by us ? Your convents were too rich. We had taken too much advantage of the knowledge which the renowned Charlemagne wished to diffuse through the West. Thou wert blaming him then that famous emperor for sending me to the East to search for

of barbarians raised

the

cultivated

soil

—

—

the remains of the ancient civilisations and of the school of Alexandria.

Probably thou wert

men coming

in

the right

;

since

we

—

work with Observe some occathe permission of God, doubtless. sional shortcomings in thy understanding, respected combehold primitive

rade.

Now

saries

of hell,

thou sayest that these Normans are the emisbecause

the}'

convent, and destroying what plish,

—

in

to destroy our

are driving

thee from thy

we had been able

to

thy opinion, at the instigation of Satan

Whenever the

accom"

!

discussion took a turn of this kind, Doxius

THE SARACENS.

333

always began a volley of vituperation, and Epergos

left

the

whistling on his thumb-nail.

field

When As

on Prankish

fairly established

had shown themselves

in

the

soil,

Normans

an altogether different character.

soon as the land became their own, they took good

care not to leave

it

fallow

;

in fact,

they had

it

cultivated,

gave themselves to the breeding of cattle and horses, built

good

fortresses to protect the country, entered

upon com-

mercial relations with their neighbours, amassed wealth for

which they found a useful employment, and having been converted to Christianity, constituted themselves the zeal-

ous defenders of the Church as far as with their interests.

became one of the

it

did not interfere

The province they occupied soon

richest

and best governed

in

France

;

but

as the population continued to increase, they were obliged

to seek their fortune elsewhere. tensive

good

enough

Normandy was

not ex-

many, especialh' as they had Having lost none of their energy, and

to feed so

appetites.

finding themselves

straitened

in

the quarters they had

secured for themselves in Gaul, they endeavoured to pass their limits,

pressed,

As

and so came

— a game

at

in

contact with populations equally

which as much might be

lost as gained.

a prudent and practical race, and knowing

how

ta

calculate chances, they therefore remained comparatively at

peace on their

find support

Thus

soil

and sent those who could not

to carry on

bodies of partisan warriors

Italy, hired its

frontiers,

on the

war

at

a distance.

betook themselves to

out their swords to the various competitors for

possession,

and

at last

began to

fight

on their own

felt

conciliated to-

account, and settled in Apulia. It

need not be said that Doxius had

wards them as soon

as,

instead of plundering the convents

of others, they set themselves to build convents for

of their own.

monks

^^^ HABITATIONS OF MAN.

334

Our

travellers

had seen the Normans

how they comported themselves employing stratagem or accomplish their ends

force, as

;

in Italy,

there

as

and knew elsewhere

occasion suggested, to

terrible destroyers of the property

;

of others when they had no hope of making use of it, but excellent guardians of that property when they had the prospect of turning

it

or other, for this

enormous

They knew

to advantage.

was the wish of the Normans

to seize on Sicily

that

it

some time

country promised to satisfy their

fertile

appetite.

Epergos, who had not ceased to keep up his intercourse with

Saracens,

the

had

letters

of

introduction

to

one

of the wealthiest inhabitants of Palermo named Moafa. He was a man of probity, greatly esteemed, and already

advanced

in years.

walls of the

city, in

He

lived in a palace not far from the

a charming vicinity.

This residence consisted of a large

pile

of building,

several stories high, substantially built of dressed stone,

and completely surrounded by gardens.

According

to

custom, certain slightly built erections, at some distance

from the palace, furnished dwellings

for

the servants,

kitchens, baths, stables, and porticos to receive strangers,

with small chambers adjoining.

Figure 93 presents the ground-floor of the plan of this wide opening A gives entrance to a long vesti-

A

palace.

bule

B, at

the extremities of which are two apartments, one

for the attendant out,

the

who

waits on persons

other which serves

apartments

in

hall,

coming

in or

going

antechamber to the

which the proprietor receives strangers.

Opposite are two rooms

a large

as an

for the domestics.

In the centre

is

opening to the court, vaulted, with four recesses.

In that occupying the centre

is

a marble fountain, from

which issues a sheet of water which pours into a central channel broken by small square basins.

THE SARACENS. In the two lateral recesses are divans,

335

and two doors com-

municating with the apartments at the

side.

There

is

a

passage at the back for the servants, uniting these two

Two

parts of the palace. first

fine flights of stairs lead to the

story which occupies only the two extremities of the

buildincr

:

for the vault of the central hall rises as hisfh as

\10' I

I

I I

I

I

I

Plan of Saracen Palace.

— Fig.

The

the floor of the second story.

93.

first

story

is

occupied

by the women. The second story exhibits the same arrangement as the ground-floor, except that the great central hall opens at its two ends, looking out on the country. It is there that the master lives. Above are also some small rooms for the servants, and a terrace from which there is a splendid view.

From buildings,

this

lofty

point,

the

and the minarets of

mosaics set

in s^old

— stands

city its

with

its

crenelated

mosques covered with

out against the azure of the

THE HABITATIONS OF MAX.

336

On

sea.

the

rises the

left

abrupt mountain which forms a

promontory, and where rocks of saffron-tinted white seem to

emerge from a garden of

On

fig-trees.

the side opposite to the sea the upper part of the valley

presents

itself,

covered with the rich verdure of orange and

lemon-trees, and terminated

At

and

olive-trees, palms,

various distances lofty

by a crown of broken peaks. piles of masonry indicate the

course" of springs, the water from

which

conveyed to

is

all

the habitations, and raised even to the top of the buildings

by these siphons

masonry constructed

of

keep the water

intervals to

The gardens

at

an elevated

at proper

level.

that surround the palace, of which figure

94

presents the exterior view on the entrance-side, are planted

with

artistic

taste,

marble conduits

in

and intersected by a number of small which clear fresh water

The imposing mass

is

of the palace, gilded

flowing.

by the sun and

seen through the verdure, has a striking

effect.

construction, with no carvings, but with

its

arranged,

it

is

decorated only in

its

Simple

upper part by a wide

string-course, serving as a balustrade, occupied outside

a beautiful inscription in

relief,

in

parts skilfully

by

and by battlements, whose

denticulation, shining in the sun, sets off the azure glory of

the sky.

Introduced into the gardens by order of the proprietor,

and waiting unwearied

at the palace gate, in their

Epergos and Doxius were

admiration of the order and smiling

tranquillity of this residence,

which contrasted so strongly

with what they had just seen in the West.

Doxius especi-

ally did not fail to extol the grave serenity of a scene so

favourable to meditation, and which seemed to be a reflex of a perfectly well-ordered existence.

According to

his wont,

he did not omit,

in

dwelling

upon this impression, to criticise severely the turbulent manners of those western nations whom he had just quitted,

PRllf/r.lPE

View

of Saracen Palace.

—

Fift. 94.

338

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

and among

whom

monks, to

it

was not possible, even

for cloistered

live in tranquillit)-'.

"Well," said Epergos to him, when he had ended his

comparison between these opposite social conditions.

"become

Mussulman!"

a

Doxius was

silent,

but looked

askance at his companion.

A

at the threshold of the portal

and made a sign to the com-

black slave soon appeared

panions to enter, Tliey

left their

shoes

in

the vestibule, and putting on the

Oriental slippers that were presented to them, were intro-

duced into the great central

Above

hall

(fig.

95),

the fountain, on a gold ground, a delicate mosaic

decorates the large niche. This, like the

two

others,

is

terminated by corbellings

of small arcades, which resemble the stalactites of certain grottos, or the cells of the

white,

pomegranate.

Gold, azure, green,

and black are distributed with the most harmonious

effect in these

myriads of

cells.

Painted arabesques form

the borders of the vault, surround the tops of the niches,

and blend with conspicuous inscriptions above the higher string-course.

The lower

string-course

mosaics which surround

ornamented with

is

fine

fillets

of

columns of white marble

placed at the angles, and return on the plinth.

The pave-

ment is made of squares of marble alternating with mosaics. The water circulating in the conduit and the basins keeps up a delightful coolness liglited

only

Moafa

is

b}'

in

this tranquil abode,

which

is

the great opening that forms the entrance.

seated. Oriental fashion, on the divan in one of

the great lateral recesses, the front of which a magnificent carpet.

Without

rising

is

spread with

he makes a sign to

the travellers to take their places on the divan opposite to

him

;

then taking the

letters,

he reads them

in silence

deliberately while a slave brings refreshments.

and

Interior of Saracen Palace.— Fio.

95. [7'o face

page

338.

THE SARACENS. The

339

slave having noiselessly disappeared through the

door at the back of the

Moafa, after a silence of

recess,

;some duration, said "

Which

of you

" I," said "

the

And who

" Doxius, "

Are you

named Epergos

is

" ?

latter.

is

my

the other

?

"

added Moafa.

companion."

Christians

" .-"

"Yes." "

From

^'

Yes."

the

West

" .-'

"What brings you "The fame of its

to

Palermo

" '^.

industrial energy, the beauty of the

wisdom of its rulers." Then, after another interval of silence, Moafa resumed "Christians do not travel to seek wisdom where it really exists, still less to imbue their imagination with the beauty country, and the

of a country; but to enrich themselves or to discover the

may

vulnerable side of a nation, so that they

by

subjugate

it

force or cunning."

"Possibly," continued Epergos are travelling for information,

Then he

"but we

;

our part

for

and have no armies

at our

some of the long undertaken and himself. The details journeys by Doxius of his adventures seemed to interest Moafa, who was listenWhen Epergos had finished, Moafa said ing attentively. "Very good but thou art not a Christian back."

related to his host

:

.''

;

" It

matters very

a Christian.

We

little

to thee whether

are eager to learn, and

I

we

am

or

love

am

not

mankind

;

we have given proof by continually traversing the w^orld in order to become acquainted with men, and to seek for what is good among them, that we may instruct of which

the ignorant, or induce people to love what

shouldst thou seek to

know more

" .''

is

good

;

why

THE HABITATIONS OT MAN.

340 " It is

my

by

infested

Sicily

is

of the

men

spies from Italy,

We

of the North.

"Yes;

But know that

offence.

which " ?

have lived among them."

I

Dost thou know anything of their projects

know

" I

the power

in

is

are obliged to be suspicious.

Hast thou seen these men of the North "

and

impolite to ask such a question of one's host,

words should not give thee

that they are impelled

tion

and

will

wish to seize Sicih', then

insatiable greed

that

;

if

by

" .''

a boundless ambi-

they subdue

Italy,

Africa, then

the Greek

they

empire, S}Tia, and the whole world."

Moafa

Silence intervening again,

Great "

is

said,

" If it is

;

!

!

my

Wilt thou allow me, Moafa, to express

" Say on. them it is

written

"

Allah

Imprudent words for thee to

injure only

know whether

"

thought

him who

.-'

utters

to speak or to

be

silent." "

Well then

their destiny

these

;

men

written

is

of the North do not believe that

by the hand

of Allah.

and barbarous they always go straight

on.

Reckless

Far from sub-

mitting to an overpowing destiny, they take upon to force that destiny,

submit to their

courage .

;

The

so far as to believe

himself to aid their projects, by

they are conquered,

they say that

.

God

them

presumptuous audacity, to

and persistence."

dint of prayers

.

their

They go even

desires.

that they can bring

" If

by

is

if

their designs are frustrated,

because they have been wanting

in skill

or

but they begin again, and never yield to Destiny. true believers, led

illustrious successors,

by Mahomet, Omar, and

were impressed with the belief that

they were to conquer the ancient world, that written ;" and

full

their

"

it

was

of this faith in the words of the master,

they spread themselves over Asia, Africa, and a part of

Europe.

They had an

invincible

weapon

for

war and con-

THE SARACENS. •quest

341

the sacred word and the destiny traced out for

in

them."

"But

is

same when

the

it

— the only question

been reached

been acquired,

if

menaced,

is

it it,

is

What

?

power having

limits of

how

a check should occur,

velopment of that power -determined

—the

keep what has

to

— an

arrest in the de-

Islam has acquired

is

not fatal to believe that Destiny has thus

and that no human power can prevail against

You have no doubt that the insatiable ambition of the men of the North is urging them towards your shores. What are decrees written beforehand

its

you doing

Book

the Eternal

in

to prevent this invasion

?

?

Are you arming your

? Are them? Are }-ou stationing guards on your coasts? No; you are waiting till the hour of attack appointed by Allah

you constructing formidable engines to repel

cities

has struck will perish

fortresses

then }-ou will defend yourselves bravely, and

;

—

unsuccessful otherwise.

if

must be so

it

it is

because

if it is

he said

that

this defence it

is

could not be

it

is

then after a long

to be driven

back into

The designs of much perhaps

issued.

first

We

;

have sinned

;

wish to punish us and take us back to our cradle,

argument no palace,

if

—

:

we may renew our youth

The

written,'

written that Islam

Allah are impenetrable.

may

was

it

to reflect profound h'

the deserts from whence

he

'

.

Moafa seemed But

the ruins of your

." .

silence, smiling sadly, "

—beneath

but with the conviction that

;

!

"

Epergos pressed the

further.

travellers

remained some days

Moafa having

allotted

in

this delightful

them two rooms belonging

to the exterior buildings.

Their host seemed to take an increasing interest versing with them.

He explained

ings were erected b}' Sicilian

to

them

in

con-

that their dwell-

workmen, under the direction

THE HABITATIONS OF MAN.

342

of architects educated

ploy

it,

Egypt, that stone abounded

in

country, and that these

workmen being accustomed

the

in

to

em-

these dwellings were constructed with that material

mode

on the outside, while they reserved the Oriental building

— that

is,

rubble-work plastered

of

— for the interiors,

which were covered with paintings, mosaic, and marble.

The

architect of the

whom

palace,

Epergos had an

opportunity of meeting, proved to him that

all his

methods

of setting-out were deduced from very simple geometrical formula;, and that the vaults of the recesses in the great hall, so

complicated

in

appearance, were drawn with the

methods that were easy

aid of

to understand

Epergos remembered that

in

and to apply.

Ancient Egj^pt he had

observed the architects thus drawing their plans, and

determining the minutest architectural details with the help of geometrical formuhx}

;

and he asked himself the ques-

tion whether these traditions had not been preserved in

the schools of Alexandria, to be employed, though in the

by these ^lussulman Omar, might be supposed

service of a very different style of art, architects who, since the time of to have been educated at Cairo

He

and on the Lower

also verified certain relations in point of plan

this residence

times

;

and

reflection.

and the palaces of Asia and Persia

all

this

furni.-