In
classical architecture
Classical architecture usually denotes architecture which is more or less consciously derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or sometimes even more specifically, from the works of the Roman architect ...
, an architrave (; from it, architrave "chief beam", also called an epistyle; from
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
ἐπίστυλον ''epistylon'' "door frame") is the
lintel or
beam that rests on the
capitals of
columns.
The term can also apply to all sides, including the vertical members, of a frame with mouldings around a door or window. The word "architrave" has come to be used to refer more generally to a style of
mouldings (or other elements) framing a door, window or other rectangular opening, where the horizontal "head" casing extends across the tops of the vertical side casings where the elements join (forming a
butt joint
A butt joint is a technique in which two pieces of material are joined by simply placing their ends together without any special shaping. The name "butt joint" comes from the way the material is joined. The butt joint is the simplest joint to ma ...
, as opposed to a
miter joint
A mitre joint (often miter in American English) is a joint made by cutting each of two parts to be joined, across the main surface, usually at a 45° angle, to form a corner, usually to form a 90° angle, though it can comprise any angle greater ...
).
[
]
Classical architecture
In an
entablature in
classical architecture
Classical architecture usually denotes architecture which is more or less consciously derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or sometimes even more specifically, from the works of the Roman architect ...
, it is the lowest part, below the
frieze
In architecture, the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Paterae are also usually used to decorate friezes. Even when neither columns nor ...
and
cornice. The word is derived from the
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
and
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
words ''arche'' and ''trabs'' combined to mean "main beam". The architrave is different in the different
Classical orders. In the
Tuscan order
The Tuscan order (Latin ''Ordo Tuscanicus'' or ''Ordo Tuscanus'', with the meaning of Etruscan order) is one of the two classical orders developed by the Romans, the other being the composite order. It is influenced by the Doric order, but with ...
, it only consists of a plain face, crowned with a
fillet
Fillet may refer to:
*Annulet (architecture), part of a column capital, also called a fillet
*Fillet (aircraft), a fairing smoothing the airflow at a joint between two components
*Fillet (clothing), a headband
*Fillet (cut), a piece of meat
*Fille ...
, and is half a
module
Module, modular and modularity may refer to the concept of modularity. They may also refer to:
Computing and engineering
* Modular design, the engineering discipline of designing complex devices using separately designed sub-components
* Mo ...
in height. In the
Doric and
Composite order
The Composite order is a mixed order, combining the volutes of the Ionic order capital with the acanthus leaves of the Corinthian order.Henig, Martin (ed.), ''A Handbook of Roman Art'', p. 50, Phaidon, 1983, In many versions the composite or ...
, it has two faces, or
fasciae, and three in the
Ionic and
Corinthian order, in which it is 10/12 of a module high, though but half a module in the rest.
Metaphorical use
The term ''architrave'' has also been used in academic writing to mean the fundamental part of something (a speech, a thought or a reasoning), or the basis upon which an idea, reasoning, thought or philosophy is built.
Examples:
# "...the Mature Hegel – the Hegel of the Philosophy of Right – who becomes the architrave on which he ''(Honneth, ed.)'' constructs his social philosophy."
#"to become the architrave of his theoretic construction"
Indian architecture
In
śilpaśāstra, the Hindu texts on architecture, the architrave is commonly referred to by its Sanskrit name ''uttara''. In
Hindu temple architecture it is placed above the bracket (''potika'') of a pillar (''
stambha
A stambha (''tower'' in English) is a pillar or column found in India. In the context of Hindu mythology, it is believed to be a cosmic column that functions as a bond, joining heaven (Svarga) and earth (Prithvi). A number of Hindu scriptures, ...
''), which gives it extra support. The Indian entablature is called ''
prastara
Prastara ( sa, प्रस्तर, prastāra, extension, flat top) is a sort of entablature in the Hindu temple architecture.
Overview
It is a horizontal superstructure of bands and moldings above column capitals, sometimes functions as a par ...
''.
Dravidian architecture recognizes several distinct types of architraves:
* rounded (''vṛttapotika'')
* wavy (''taraṅgapotika'')
* flower shaped (''puṣpapotika'')
* bevel and tenon type (''ādhārapotika'')
* voluted (''muṣṭibanda'')
* figural (''citrapotika'')
See also
*
Archivolt
An archivolt (or voussure) is an ornamental moulding or band following the curve on the underside of an arch.
It is composed of bands of ornamental mouldings (or other architectural elements) surrounding an arched opening, corresponding to the ...
– expanded and elaborated architrave element
*
Dolmen – Neolithic predecessor, megalithic tombs with structural stone lintels
*
Lintel
*
Post and lintel
In architecture, post and lintel (also called prop and lintel or a trabeated system) is a building system where strong horizontal elements are held up by strong vertical elements with large spaces between them. This is usually used to hold up ...
– architectural system with architraves-lintels
Footnotes
External links
* {{Commons category-inline, Architraves
Columns and entablature
Architectural elements
Ancient Roman architectural elements