Metope (architecture)

A metope (; ) is a rectangular architectural element of the Doric order, filling the space between triglyphs in a frieze

, a decorative band above an architrave.
In earlier wooden buildings the spaces between triglyphs were first open, and later the free spaces in between triglyphs were closed with metopes; however, metopes are not load-bearing part of a building.
Earlier metopes are plain, but later metopes were painted or ornamented with reliefs. The painting on most metopes has been lost, but sufficient traces remain to allow a close idea of their original appearance.

In terms of structure, metopes were made out of clay or stone. A stone metope may be carved from a single block with a triglyph (or triglyphs), or they may be cut separately and slide into slots in the triglyph blocks as at the Temple of Aphaea. Sometimes the metopes and friezes were cut from different stone, so as to provide color contrast. Although they tend to be close to square in shape, some metopes are noticeably larger in height or in width. They may also vary in width within a single structure to allow for corner contraction, an adjustment of the column spacing and arrangement of the Doric frieze in a temple to make the design appear more harmonious.

Some of the earliest surviving examples are stone metopes from a peripteral temple at Mycenae, ca. late 7th century BC, and painted clay metopes from Thermus, ca. early 6th century BC. The high-point of relief sculpture on metopes is exemplified by the 92 metopes of the Parthenon, metopes of the temple of Zeus at Olympia, together with the metopes of Temple C at Selinus.

Gallery

MRSAS PA 14 09 2018 31.jpg, Triglyphs and metopes from the Temple C (Selinus) at Selinus, , in the Antonino Salinas Regional Archeological Museum (Palermo, Italy)
File:Metope-1.jpg, A metope (L) and triglyph (R) cut from one block from Stratos
File:Metope-2.jpg, Triglyph blocks with slots for the insertion of metopes in the Marmaria at Delphi
File:Brauron-10.jpg, Metopes made from marble slotted into the frieze of the Stoa at Brauron
File:Paestum Museum (6120213537).jpg, Section of metope frieze from a temple near Paestum,
File:Metope-3.jpg, Metopes with sculptural decoration in the Doric frieze of the Treasury of the Athenians at Delphi
File:Aphaia-temple-3.jpg, Frieze of the Temple of Aphaea with triglyphs slotted for metopes
File:Angle del temple d'Hefest de l'àgora d'Atenes.JPG, The entablature of the ''Hephaisteion'' (temple of Hephaistos) in Athens, showing Doric frieze with sculpted metopes
File:Extérieur du château de Maisons-Laffitte 01.JPG, Metope on a façade of the Château de Maisons-Laffitte from France, an example of French Baroque architecture, by François Mansart
File:Extérieur du château de Maisons-Laffitte 02.JPG, Another metope of the Château de Maisons-Laffitte
File:Paris Hôtel de Beauvais2189.JPG, Doric frieze of the Hôtel de Beauvais from Paris
File:Metopes - Indianapolis Public Library.jpg, Early 20th-century Americanized metopes, using bison in place of cow skulls ( bucranium)

See also

* Classical order

References

External links

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Ancient Greek architecture
Ancient Greek sculpture
Ancient Roman architectural elements
Ancient Roman sculpture
Columns and entablature
Architectural sculpture