Frieze Facts for Kids

A Doric frieze at the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, built between 449 and 415 BCE.

This is a detail of a frieze at The Circus (Bath) in the UK. It shows alternating triglyphs and metopes. The architect was John Wood, the Elder.

A frieze with animals and myths at the base of Hoysaleswara temple in India.

The frieze along the roof of Yankee Stadium.

A frieze is a special part of a building or a room. In architecture, it's a wide, flat section that often has cool designs. You can find friezes on many old buildings, especially those from ancient Greece and Rome. The most famous one is probably the Parthenon Frieze.

Imagine a building's top part, called the entablature. The frieze is the middle section of this entablature. It can be plain, or it can be decorated with bas-reliefs. Bas-reliefs are sculptures that stick out only a little from the surface.

Even on walls without columns, the frieze sits above the main beam, called the architrave. It is topped by decorative edges, known as the cornice.

Inside buildings, a frieze is the part of the wall just below the ceiling. It's usually above where pictures hang. These indoor friezes can be made of plasterwork or carved wood. They often have long stretches of painted, sculpted, or even calligraphic art. These decorations are usually above eye-level. Sometimes, friezes tell a story through a series of connected pictures.

For example, the octagonal Tower of the Winds in the Roman agora in Athens has sculptures of the eight winds on its frieze.

Ancient Friezes Around the World
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Ancient Friezes Around the World

Friezes have been used in many different cultures throughout history. They often show important stories, symbols, or patterns.

Friezes in Ancient Persia

Ancient Persian buildings, like those at Persepolis, featured detailed friezes. These designs often included repeating patterns and figures. They show the rich art and culture of the Achaemenid Empire.

Achaemenid frieze designs at Persepolis.

Friezes in Ancient Greece

Greek friezes are very famous for their beauty and detail. They often show scenes from myths, battles, or religious ceremonies. The Parthenon Frieze is a great example, showing a procession of people and gods.

An Ionic frieze at the Erechtheum in Athens, built between 421 and 406 BCE.
Top: A Kyanos frieze from Tiryns. Bottom: A frieze from the Erechtheion in Athens, 4th century BCE.
A frieze from Delphi with lotuses that have many calyxes.

Friezes in Ancient India

Ancient Indian temples and structures also have amazing friezes. These often feature animals, plants, and scenes from religious stories. They are known for their detailed carvings and symbolic meanings.

A frieze from the lost capital of the Allahabad pillar. It shows two lotuses around a "flame palmette" and small rosette flowers. This is from the 3rd century BCE.
A detail of the abacus from the Rampurva bull capital. It shows two "flame palmettes" around a lotus and small rosette flowers. This is from the 3rd century BCE.
The frieze of the Sankissa elephant, from the 3rd century BCE.