Pediments in Greek Architecture - What is a pediment? Why did Greek architects put pediments on? Pictures of pediments.

Pediment

greek temple with pediment

The pediment is the triangular place under the roof of a Greek temple. Each temple has two, one on the front and one on the back. At first pediments were probably plain, but soon the Greeks began to decorate pediments with stone sculpture. One of the earliest pediments, on the temple of Artemis on the island of Corfu, has a scary Medusa on it.


pediment from corfu

Later Greek sculptors put whole scenes on pediments, usually one exciting part of a well-known myth. The Parthenon has the story of the birth of Athena on one side, and the story of Athena and Poseidon fighting to be the main god of Athens on the other side.

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