The larger and more elaborate of the so-called treasuries of pre-historic Greece, such as the Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae, and the Treasury of Minyas at Orchomenus, consist of two chambers, a larger outer chamber, which is circular in plan and of conical form, resembling in fact the beehive to which it has often been compared, and a cubical inner chamber, of much smaller dimensions. The accompanying engraving will make this clear (Fig. 14). The architect of the Mycenaean tomb had no small skill. The colossal size of the stones, especially of that over the door and of some in the dromos or approach, arouses the astonishment of the modern visitor, who wonders by what machinery and appliances blocks so colossal were transported from the quarries and placed in position. The gradual inward slope of the walls, each course of which somewhat overlaps the course below, is managed with great skill and accuracy. Rows of nails, some remains of which are still to be seen in the inner walls, supported, not indeed as some have supposed, a complete bronze lining to the conical chamber, but rows of stars or other ornaments, on which would glitter the light of the torches (Fig. 15). Perhaps the most expressive characteristic of all is the lavish expenditure of labour on a building which was entirely buried with earth, and on the magnificent approach built of hewn stones, when something far simpler and more effective might have been arranged. Evidently the builders of these monuments thought no trouble and no expense wasted, if only the dead were honoured and gratified. [Illustration: FIG. 14. SECTIONAL PLAN OF THE SO-CALLED TREASURY OF ATREUS[49].] A simpler form of tomb of the same age and style dispensed with the square side-chamber, and consisted of a beehive building only. The engraving (Fig. 16) gives the plan of such a tomb near the Lion Gate of Mycenae. [Illustration: FIG. 15. RESTORATION OF INTERIOR OF TREASURY, BY C. CHIPIEZ[50].] The excavations of recent years have given us abundant information on three important points, first as to the architectural decoration of these splendid memorials of the dead, second as to their purpose, and third as to their date. On each of these subjects I must briefly touch. There have been for a long time in the British Museum interesting fragments from the doorway of the Treasury of [Illustration: FIG. 16. PLAN AND FAÇADE OF TREASURY[51].]