[32] Cf. Ch. II. p. 28. It should also be observed that these forms of construction do not invariably denote successive steps of antiquity and the art of building. Unhewn boulders, rough quarried stones, and those which had a polygonal cleavage due to their nature, were often used for convenience by builders who were quite able to work quadrangular blocks, as is proved by walls in which the former kinds are placed _above_ the last. See Mr. E. H. Bunbury's "Cyclopean Remains in Central Italy," in the 'Classical Museum,' 1845, vol. ii. pp. 147. _seqq._, and the article MURUS in Dr. Smith's 'Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities.' [33] See the margin of Plan A. [34] Dodwell ('A Classical and Topographical Tour through Greece') and Prof. Ernst Curtius (_Peloponnes_) consider this gallery to be a second gate, which I think impossible, as it leads straight out into the plain. [35] Colonel Leake states ('Travels in the Morea,' Vol. II. p. 351) that the principal entrance of Tiryns is on the south side, adjacent to the south-east angle. He is right if he speaks of the present day, for there has indeed been made at that point in modern times a zigzag roadway, leading up the steep slope; but there was most decidedly no gate or entrance whatever here in ancient times. [36] Aristotle and Theophrastus, _ap._ Plin. _H. N._ VII. 56. Pliny says that the former of these authors attributes the building of towers to the Cyclopes, the latter to the Tirynthians. [37] Paus. IX. 36. [38] _Iliad_, II. 559:--Οἳ δ᾽ ῎Αργος τ᾽ εἶχον Τίρυνθά τε τειχιόοεσσαν. [39] Pind. _Ol._ XI. 40; Ovid, _Met._ VII. 410; Virgil, _Æn._ VII. 662. [40] Herodot. IX. 28. [41] Herodot. VI. 83. [42] Paus. II. 17, 5; VIII. 27, 1. [43] VIII. p. 373. [44] Il. 15, 9. [45] _Apud_ Athenæum, VI. 261. [46] Theophrastus adds that, desirous to get rid of their propensity to laugh, the Tirynthians consulted the oracle at Delphi, and got the god's answer that, if they could sacrifice an ox to Poseidon and throw it into the sea, without laughing, the evil would at once cease. The Tirynthians, who feared to fail in the execution of the god's command, forbad the children to be present at the sacrifice. But one of them having heard this, and having mixed in the crowd, they cried out at him to drive him away, on which he exclaimed, "How, are you afraid that I shall upset your sacrifice?" This excited universal laughter, and they became convinced that the god intended to show them by experience that an inveterate evil custom cannot be remedied. [47] Max Müller, 'Essays,' II. 79. [48] Aristot. _Meteorol._ I. 14. [49] The exact depths are indicated by the proportional numbers appended to the sectional plans of the excavations in the margin of Plan A. [50] See Nos. 2-7, and the coloured Plate A, figs. a, b. [51] See Nos. 8-11 on p. 12, and the coloured Plate A, fig. d. [52] To these may be added the Syrian and Phœnician Ashtoreth.