The Doric Order

Relate Architectural Terms to the Plan


Entablature

The complex upper structure of the Order, supported by columns and consisting of an architrave, frieze, and pediment.

Cornice

The projecting, uppermost horizontal member of a classical entablature.

Raking Sima

The terracotta or stone gutter of atop a pediment, placed above the raking cornice. The raking sima is continuous, while other simas on the flanks of a building are provided with downspouts for rainwater, often in the form of lions’ heads.

Raking Geison

A molded projection that follows the slope of the pediment; also called the raking cornice.

Pediment

A low-pitched triangular gable crowning a façade, often containing sculpture. In the Parthenon, the east pediment contained sculptures representing the Birth of Athena and the west pediment contained sculptures representing the Contest between Athena and Poseidon.

Geison

A horizontal molded projection that runs the full perimeter of a Greek temple, also known as a corona or cornice.

Frieze

The middle division of an entablature, between the cornice and the architrave. The Doric frieze is a band subdivided by triglyphs and metopes.

Mutule

A projecting rectangular block or bracket under the cornice, centered above the triglpyh.

Guttae

A series of small ornaments in the shape of truncated cones in a Doric entablature.

Triglyph

The characteristic ornamental panel in a Doric frieze, consisting of a vertical raised block composed of three vertical bands separated by indented flutes or channels.

Metope

Panels arranged between triglyphs located in a Doric frieze, either plain or decorated with sculptural reliefs.

Architrave or Epistyle

The lowest element of a classical entablature (upper structure) that rests directly on the abaci of supporting columns. Also called the Epistyle.

Taenia

The projecting fillet or band at the top of a Doric architrave, separating it from the top of the frieze.

Regula

A band below the taenia and above the guttae in a Doric architrave.

Guttae

A series of small ornaments in the shape of truncated cones in a Doric entablature.

Column

An upright masonry element comprised of a base, shaft, and capital (except in the case of the Greek Doric Order, which has no base.) Columns arranged in rows form a colonnade. The space between each column is called the intercolumniation.

Capital

The upper part or head of a column, set over the shaft. Each architectural order has a distinctive capital; the Doric consists of a plain abacus set above an echinus.

Abacus

The slab at the top of a capital, crowning the column and supporting the entablature. The Doric abacus is a simple square block.

Echinus

A molding below the abacus of a Greek Doric capital.

Shaft

The body of a column between the capital and the base.

Stylobate

The topmost pavement step of a structure of three steps on which a colonnade is placed. The stylobate rests on the stereobate.

Stereobate

The continuous stone base located below the stylobate.