Architrave

Architrave of the left-side portal in the facade of the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan, Italy (with a relieving arch above)
Architrave in the Basilica of San Salvatore, Spoleto, Italy.

In classical architecture, an architrave (/ˈɑːrkɪtrv/; from Italian architrave 'chief beam', also called an epistyle;[1] from Ancient Greek ἐπίστυλον (epistylon) 'on the column') is the lintel or beam, typically made of wood or stone, that rests on the capitals of columns.[2]

The term can also apply to all sides, including the vertical members, of a frame with mouldings around a door or window. The word "architrave" has come to be used to refer more generally to a style of mouldings (or other elements) framing a door, window or other rectangular opening, where the horizontal "head" casing extends across the tops of the vertical side casings where the elements join (forming a butt joint, as opposed to a miter joint).[3]

  1. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Epistyle" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 703.
  2. ^ Reich, Ronny; Katzenstein, Hannah (1992). "Glossary of Archaeological Terms". In Kempinski, Aharon; Reich, Ronny (eds.). The Architecture of Ancient Israel. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society. p. 311. ISBN 978-965-221-013-5.
  3. ^ Ching, Francis D.K. (1995). A Visual Dictionary of Architecture. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 179, 186. ISBN 0-471-28451-3.