Acroterion

Examples of acroteria.

A modern acroterion, in the Art Deco style. Approximately 2m tall, removed.

An acroterion or acroterium is an architectural ornament placed on a flat base called the acroter or plinth, and mounted at the apex of the pediment of a building in the classical style. It may also be placed at the outer angles of the pediment; such acroteria are referred to as acroteria angularia (angulāria means ‘at the corners’).

The acroterion may take a wide variety of forms, such as a statue, tripod, disc, urn, palmette or some other sculpted feature. Acroteria are also found in Gothic architecture. They are sometimes incorporated into the design of furniture.^[1]

The word comes from the Greek akrōtḗrion (ἀκρωτήριον ‘summit, extremity’), from the superlative form of the adjective akros (ἄκρος, ‘extreme, endmost’). It was Latinized by the Romans as acroterium.^[2] Acroteria is the plural of both the original Greek^[3] and the Latin form.^[4]

See also

• Antefix
• Finial
• Palmette
• Ornament
• List of classical architecture terms

References

1. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/4232/acroterion
2. "acroter". Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. September 2005. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
3. Greek Architecture glossary
4. Acroterium at A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, 1875.

External links

• Encyclopædia Britannica - Acroterion