Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Terminology of Classical Orders

What is the significance of the Classical orders?

Some Moldings and Ornaments commonly used.

Term Meaning
Abacus The abacus is a square slab of stone on top of the capital, that provides additional support for the architrave.
Acroterion An acroterion is an ornament placed at an acroter (plinth) at the apex of of a pediment.
Architrave The architrave is positioned above the column capitals. It is composed of the taenia (below metopes and triglyphs), guttae (a strip with 'drops' below the triglyphs).
Astragal An astragal is small, convex molding.
Base The columns styles (Doric, Ionian, etc.) have different bases, composed of several components such as Tori, and Scotia.
Caryatid A caryatid was a support for the pagan ideology in ancient societies.
Cornice (geison) A cornice is a triangular portion of pediment that projects horizintally from the frieze/architrave. The cornice is composed of soffit, corona, and cymatium. The cornice is the eaves.
Corona Doric and Ionic entablatures have triangular pediments, but Corinthian entabulatures have a flat roof, the top layer of which is called the "cymatium". Just under the "cymatium" is the "corona". Another flat layer beneath the corona are mutules or "dentils" (that look like teeth). These dentils are separated by viae.
Crepidoma The crepidoma is comprised of all the steps under the columns of an edifice, lying upon the euthynteria (earth foundations) under the edifice.
Cymatium When a cyma shaped molded stone is used as the top of an entablature, it is called a cymatium.
Dentils Tooth-like blocks used in a close repeating pattern, with spaces, or viae, between each dentile.
Echinus The echinus is decorative molding that is positioned between the abachus and the necking.
Entablatures Structure of pediments, friezes, architraves, ornaments, that lie above the columns.
Euthynteria The foundation under the stairs (crepidoma) of an edifice with columns.
Frieze Unmolded entablature strip that may be ornamented.
Guttae Strip with cylindrical 'drops' below triglyphs — part of the architrave.
Horizontal Geison Horizontal portion of the pediment.
Horizontal Sima Horizontal portion of the side of the roof.
Hypoachelion The hypoachelion is a separate piece of the column shaft. As it is a separate piece of the column shaft, there is an edge that separates the hypoachelion from the rest of the column shaft.
Metope Flat spaces between triglyphs (may be ornamented with a zoophorus: carved human, animal or mythical figures).
Modillion Ornate brackets often in the shape of acanthus leaves.
Mutules A rectangular block that hangs from the soffit of the cornice (Doric order) and mutules appear over the triglyphs.
Necking The necking is an unornameted area of stone between the echinus and the astragal.
Pediment The pediment is often a triangular shaped end of the roof.
Raking Geison Rising portion of the pediment.
Raking Sima Rising portion of the front of the roof.
Regula Thin rectangular bands with guttae, beneath triglyphs, the taenia separating each triglyph and regula.
Soffit The cornice is often a triangular portion of pediment that projects horizintally from the frieze/architrave and is composed of the soffit, corona, and cymatium. The soffit is the basal ledge of the overhanging cornace eaves.
Scotia A scotia is an annulus that forms part of the base of a column.
Stereobate All stairs other than the top stair at the entrance to edifice with columns.
Stylobate Top stair at the entrance to edifice with columns.
Taenia Band or ribbon 'fillet' molding at the top of a Doric architrave, separating the architrave from the frieze.
Torus Tori formed part of the base of a column.
Triglyph Vertically-channeled stone, in three fascia.
Tympanum The tympanum is the area within the (often) triangular shaped end of the roof.
Viae Dentils are tooth-like blocks used in a close repeating pattern, with spaces or viae between each dentile.
Volute Volutes are spriral forms which are a distinguishing element of the capital of Ionic columns.
Zoophorus A carved ornament of a human, animal or mythical figure often found on the metope of a Doric frieze.

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