XXVII
those of its neighbour town, is referred to the hands of the
Cyclops. The condition of Mycenae is, I should suppose,
very much that in which it was seen by Pausanias, or even
by Thucydides five hundred years before: indeed, these
stupendous masses, in their present dilapidated state, appear
to be so indestructible as to defy the further injuries of time,
as well as the violence of any force inferior to that which
was employed in their construction. Pausanias informs us,
that in his time among the ruins of the walls a gate remained,
over which was the representation of two lions'. This gate,
which seems to have been the principal entrance to the city,
does not stand even with the course of the walls, but is
placed considerably within the line described by their
general circuit. The approach, therefore, is for some paces
by a sort of passage between the walls, and scarcely of a
greater width than the gate by which it is terminated.
Defence was the object of this contrivance, by which few
persons abreast could reach the entrance at the same time,
and in the attempt must necessarily have been exposed to
destruction from the weapons of the inhabitants stationed on
the ramparts of each wall which formed the avenue. By
the accumulation of earth this gate is buried nearly up to the
top, where it is not more than eight feet wide, yet the
lintel is one massive stone twelve feet in length. The jambs,
which probably consist also of single stones, are inclined
towards each other, the width of the opening being gradually
diminished from the bottom; a contrivance by which the
Pausan. Argol. c. 16.
deirerat de qus irt al dla ré regéide, nal i nodr Aopres de igs fjaen Aorf.