Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 1.djvu/414

Tombs of the Her/EUm and Nauplia. 387 passed through fire;* but in this case the hole is of later date, dug when the grave was re-used. Chips from the covering slabs have been found in and about the pits. The pecuHarity of the Nauplian graves is their having oven-shaped niches sunk either in the side-wall of the chamber or in that of the passage (Fig. 134). They were found to contain broken pottery and terra-cotta figurines ; some were closed by walls made of loose stones, others with great slabs.^ One is tempted to view these niches in the Fir,. 134. — Plan of tomb at Nauplia. light of additions made to the family vault when this had become quite full. One of the explorers throws out the not improbable suggestion that the niches in the passage were intended to receive the bodies of persons of inferior rank, who were not entitled to have a place marked out for them within the chamber ; that we have here the remains of dependants and slaves.* The grave furniture harmonized with the insignificant dimen- sions and internal arrangement of graves plainly made for • 'Afliji-nioj'. * Ihid. » LOLIJNC {Atheniscke Miltheilungen).