Entablature Facts for Kids

An entablature is a really important part of classical architecture. Think of it as the big, fancy section of a building that sits right on top of the columns. It rests on their capitals, which are the decorated tops of the columns.

An entablature is made up of three main parts, stacked one on top of the other:

The architrave is the bottom part. It's like a strong beam that goes right over the columns or a wall.
The frieze is the middle part. This section is often plain, but it can also be decorated with cool carvings or designs.
The cornice is the top part. It's the piece that sticks out and forms a kind of crown, often just below the pediment (the triangular part of a roof).

The entablature was a big step up from older, simpler ways of building. Before, people used a basic lintel, which was just a single beam placed between two posts to hold up a roof. The entablature is much more detailed and decorative!

What is an Entablature?
- Why are Entablatures Important?
Parts of an Entablature
Entablatures Through History
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What is an Entablature?

An entablature is a key part of ancient Greek and Roman buildings. It's like a fancy, strong beam system that connects the columns and supports the roof structure above. Imagine a building's "belt" or "crown" that sits just above the tall pillars. This design makes buildings look grand and balanced.

Why are Entablatures Important?

Entablatures are important for a few reasons:

Strength: They help distribute the weight of the roof and upper parts of the building evenly across the columns.
Beauty: They add a lot of style and decoration to classical buildings. The different parts of the entablature (architrave, frieze, and cornice) can be plain or covered in amazing sculptures.
History: By looking at an entablature, experts can often tell what style of architecture a building belongs to, like Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian. Each style has its own special way of designing the entablature.

Parts of an Entablature

Let's look closer at the three main parts that make up an entablature:

The Architrave

The architrave is the lowest part of the entablature. It sits directly on top of the column capitals. Think of it as the main horizontal beam that connects all the columns. In some styles, like the Doric, it's a simple, plain band. In others, like the Ionic or Corinthian, it might have two or three smaller bands stacked together. It's the foundation of the entablature.

The Frieze

Right above the architrave is the frieze. This is often the most exciting part because it's where artists would put sculptures and carvings.

In Doric buildings, the frieze has alternating sections:
- Triglyphs are vertical blocks with three grooves.
- Metopes are the spaces between the triglyphs, which were often filled with carved scenes of battles, myths, or heroes.
In Ionic and Corinthian buildings, the frieze is usually a continuous band. This means it can have one long, flowing sculpture all the way around the building, telling a story or showing a procession.

The Cornice

The cornice is the top and final part of the entablature. It's like the "hat" of the building, sticking out to protect the parts below from rain and sun. It also adds a finishing touch to the design. The cornice often has decorative moldings that create shadows and make the building look even grander. It's the part that connects the entablature to the roof or pediment.

Entablatures Through History

Entablatures have been used for thousands of years, starting with ancient Greek temples and continuing through Roman times. They became a standard feature in classical architecture. Even today, you can see entablature designs in many important buildings around the world, from government buildings to museums, showing their lasting influence.