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Ametope (/ˈmɛtəpi/;Ancient Greek:μετόπη) is a rectangular architectural element of theDoric order, filling the space betweentriglyphs in afrieze[1][2][3][4]: 43 [5]: 43 , a decorative band above anarchitrave.[3]In earlier wooden buildings the spaces between triglyphs were first open, and later the free spaces in between triglyphs were closed with metopes[3][1]: 43 [5]: 43 ; however, metopes are not load-bearing part of a building[4]: 43 [5]: 43 .Earlier metopes are plain, but later metopes were painted or ornamented with reliefs[3][4]: 130 .[2][1] The painting on most metopes has been lost, but sufficient traces remain to allow a close idea of their original appearance.
In terms of structure, metopes were made out of clay or stone.[1] A stone metope may be carved from a single block with a triglyph (or triglyphs), or they may be cut separately and slide into slots in the triglyph blocks as at theTemple of Aphaea. Sometimes the metopes and friezes were cut from different stone, so as to provide color contrast. Although they tend to be close to square in shape[5]: 43 ,[1] some metopes are noticeably larger in height or in width[5]: 71 . They may also vary in width within a single structure to allow for corner contraction, an adjustment of the column spacing and arrangement of the Doric frieze in a temple to make the design appear more harmonious.
Some of the earliest surviving examples are stone metopes from aperipteral temple at Mycenae, ca. late 7th century BC, and painted clay metopes from Thermus, ca. early 6th century BC.[1] The high-point of relief sculpture on metopes is exemplified by the 92metopes of the Parthenon, metopes ofthe temple of Zeus at Olympia,[1] together with the metopes ofTemple C at Selinus.
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