In
classical architecture, a metope (μετόπη) is a rectangular architectural element that fills the space between two
triglyphs in a
Doric Doric may refer to:
* Doric, of or relating to the Dorians of ancient Greece
** Doric Greek, the dialects of the Dorians
* Doric order, a style of ancient Greek architecture
* Doric mode, a synonym of Dorian mode
* Doric dialect (Scotland)
* Doric ...
frieze, which is a decorative band of alternating triglyphs and metopes above the
architrave
In classical architecture, an architrave (; from it, architrave "chief beam", also called an epistyle; from Greek ἐπίστυλον ''epistylon'' "door frame") is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of columns.
The term can ...
of a building of the
Doric order. Metopes often had painted or sculptural decoration; the most famous example are the 92 metopes of the
Parthenon marbles some of which depict the battle between the
Centaur
A centaur ( ; grc, κένταυρος, kéntauros; ), or occasionally hippocentaur, is a creature from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse.
Centaurs are thought of in many Greek myths as being ...
s and the
Lapiths. 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 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.
Ancient architecture
The triglyph frieze is part of the Doric order, found in ancient Greece in the 7th century BC. Chr. and was mainly used in temple architecture. But even later, the Doric order and with it the metopes were used as a structuring and decorative principle of order in Greek architecture. In the early days, the metopes were open and could contain vases or sacrificial skulls. Later, the free spaces were closed with panels made of different materials. These plates could be painted or provided with reliefs.
Gallery
MRSAS PA 14 09 2018 31.jpg, Triglyphs and metopes from the Temple C (Selinus)
Temple C at Selinus (Sicily), is a Greek temple in the Doric style. It was one of the most ancient of the temples at Selinus, having probably been built on the acropolis a little after the middle of the sixth century BC, although its dating is con ...
at Selinus, 560 BC, in the Antonino Salinas Regional Archeological Museum
The Antonino Salinas Regional Archeological Museum ( it, Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonino Salinas) is a museum in Palermo, Italy. It possesses one of the richest collections of Phoenicia, Punic and Ancient Greek art in Italy, as well as ma ...
(Palermo
Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan ...
, Italy)
Image:Metope-1.jpg, A metope (L) and triglyph (R) cut from one block from Stratos
Image:Metope-2.jpg, Triglyph blocks with slots for the insertion of metopes in the Marmaria at Delphi
Image:Brauron-10.jpg, Metopes made from marble slotted into the frieze of the Stoa at Brauron
Image:Paestum Museum (6120213537).jpg, Section of metope frieze from a temple near Paestum, c. 510 BC
Image:Metope-3.jpg, Metopes with sculptural decoration in the Doric frieze of the Treasury of the Athenians at Delphi
Image:Aphaia-temple-3.jpg, Frieze of the Temple of Aphaea with triglyphs slotted for metopes
Image: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
Extérieur du château de Maisons-Laffitte 01.JPG, Metope on a façade of the Château de Maisons-Laffitte
A château (; plural: châteaux) is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor, or a fine country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally, and still most frequently, in French-speaking regions.
No ...
from France, an example of French Baroque architecture, by François Mansart
Extérieur du château de Maisons-Laffitte 02.JPG, Another metope of the Château de Maisons-Laffitte
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
*
Metopes of the Parthenon
The metopes of the Parthenon are the surviving set of what were originally 92 square carved plaques of Pentelic marble originally located above the columns of the Parthenon peristyle on the Acropolis of Athens. If they were made by several artists, ...
*
Classical order
An order in architecture is a certain assemblage of parts subject to uniform established proportions, regulated by the office that each part has to perform.
Coming down to the present from Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman civilization, the arch ...
References
* Robertson, D. S. (1929). ''Handbook of Greek and Roman Architecture''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
External links
* {{commons category-inline, Metopes
Ancient Greek architecture
Ancient Greek sculpture
Ancient Roman architectural elements
Ancient Roman sculpture
Columns and entablature
Architectural sculpture
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