Amonopteros (Ancient Greek:ὁ μονόπτερος, from: μόνος, 'only, single, alone', andτὸ πτερόν, 'wing'), also called amonopteron orcyclostyle, is a circularcolonnade supporting a roof but without any walls.[1] Unlike atholos (in its wider sense as a circular building), it does not have walls making acella or room inside. InGreek and especiallyRoman antiquity, the term could also be used for a tholos. In ancient times, monopteroi (Ancient Greek:οἱ μονόπτεροι) served among other things as a form ofbaldachin for a cult image. An example of this is theMonument of Lysicrates inAthens, albeit with the spaces between the columns being walled in, even in ancient times. TheTemple of Roma and Augustus on theAthenian Acropolis is a monopteros from Roman times, with open spaces between the columns.
Monopteroi were populargarden features inEnglish- andFrench-style gardens, often given classical names such as "muses' temple". Manywells inparks and spa centres are covered by a monopteros. Many monopteroi havestaffage structures like aporticus placed in front of the monopteros. These also have only a decorative function, because they are not needed in order to provide an entrance to a temple that is open on all sides.
Many monopteroi are described asrotundas due to their circularfloor plan. The tholos also goes by that name. However, many monopteroi have square or polygonal plans, and these would not be described as rotundas. An example is the Muses' Temple with the muse,Polyhymnia, in the grounds ofTiefurt House, that has a hexagonal floor plan.
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cyclostyle".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 689.
