PREFACE. The names of MM. Perrot and Chipiez are so universally known, the former for his all-embracing archaeological knowledge and infinite capacity in taking pains, the latter as an eminent architect, that the announcement of a joint production of theirs cannot fail to excite the curiosity of the public, taught by experience to look for good solid work at their hands. I venture to predict that the hopes thus raised will be more than satisfied, both in point of interest and in the wide range of the subject-matter contained in the present work, which maintains in full the high level of the preceding volumes. With regard to my humble part as translator, I can only hope that my sins of omission and commission properly to handle so recondite and vast a subject will not be too severely judged by the critical reader.
