metope
(noun)
A rectangular architectural element that fills the space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze.
Examples of metope in the following topics:
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The Parthenon
- The exterior of the temple has a Doric frieze consisting of metopes and triglyphs.
- The sculpted reliefs on the Parthenon's metopes are both decorative and symbolic and relate stories of the Greeks against the others.
- These scenes are the most preserved of the metopes and demonstrate how Phidias mastered fitting episodic narrative into square spaces.
- Metope from the south side of the Parthenon, of a Lapis and a Centuar.
- Describe the defining aspects of the metopes, processional friezes, pediments and sculptoral work of the Greek Parthenon.
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Temple Architecture in the Greek Archaic Period
- The frieze was decorated with alternating panels of triglyphs and metopes.
- Between the triglyphs were the metopes.
- Sculptors used the metope spaces to depict mythological occurrences, often with historical or cultural links to the site on which the temple stood.
- While very little paint remains now, the entire pediment scene, triglyphs and metopes, and other parts of the temple would have been painted in bright colors.
- This is one of the metopes from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.
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Marble Sculpture and Architecture in the Greek Early Classical Period
- The twelve metopes over the pronaos and opisthodomos depict scenes from the twelve labors of Herakles.
- Like the development in pedimental sculpture, the reliefs on the metopes display the Early Classical understanding of the body.
- This metope fragment depicts Herakles in a more dynamic and emotive pose.
- This metope fragment depicts Herakles with relatively calm body language.
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The Acropolis
- The exterior of the temple has a Doric frieze consisting of metopes and triglyphs.
- The sculpted reliefs on the Parthenon's metopes are both decorative and symbolic and relate stories of the Greeks against the others.
- These scenes are the most preserved of the metopes and demonstrate how Phidias mastered fitting episodic narrative into square spaces.
- The order of the Propylaea and its columns are Doric, and its decoration is simple, lacking reliefs in the metopes and pediment.
- Metope from the south side of the Parthenon, of a Lapis and a Centuar.
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Delphi and Greek Treasuries
- The treasury has Doric columns and a frieze of triglyphs and thirty metopes that depict scenes from the life of Theseus, an Athenian mythological hero, and Herakles.
- The metopes also display the development of Archaic relief and temple decoration.
- Metope depicting Herakles and Ceryean Hind.
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Sutures
- Frontal suture or metopic suture: Located between the two frontal bones, prior to the fusion of the two into a single bone.
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Architecture in the Greek High Classical Period
- Externally, 20 Doric columns supported a frieze with triglyphs and metopes.
- The circular wall of the cella was also crowned by a similar frieze, metopes, and triglyphs to a lesser extent.
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The Temple of Athena Nike
- Unlike the metopes of the Parthenon, which depict mythical battles, the battles shown on the frieze of the Temple of Athena Nike depict historical battles of the Greeks.
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Aegina
- While very little paint remains now, the entire pediment scene, triglyphs and metopes, and other parts of the temple would have been painted in bright colors.
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The Propylaea and the Erechtheion
- The order of the Propylaia and its columns are Doric and the decoration of is plain and simple; there are no reliefs carved into the metopes and the pediment is unadorned.